The arrest was carried out by Mexican authorities in coordination with U.S. law‑enforcement agencies, according to a post on X by security minister Omar Garcia Harfuch. Rivera was taken into custody in Mexico City on Tuesday, marking the latest high‑profile seizure in a binational effort to disrupt the flow of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl.
Rivera, a Mexican national, has been under U.S. sanctions since January 2023 after the State Department accused him of financing and facilitating the transport of fentanyl precursors into the United States. The sanctions list described him as a key figure in a transnational operation that sources chemicals from China and ships them across the border.
Garcia Harfuch praised the cooperation, saying, “Through international cooperation, shared responsibility, and unrestricted respect for our sovereignty, we are cutting off the flow of money that finances the criminal organizations causing so much harm in Mexico and other countries.” The statement underscored the joint nature of the operation and the emphasis on targeting the financial networks behind drug trafficking.
Earlier that day, U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations that Mexico had become the epicenter of cartel‑related violence and urged the country to reclaim control of its territory. His remarks highlighted the broader security concerns that frame the arrest, as both governments seek to curb the surge in fentanyl‑related deaths linked to Mexican‑sourced supply chains.
Authorities said the detention is part of a larger strategy to dismantle the logistical and financial infrastructure that fuels the fentanyl epidemic in North America. Officials expect further investigations to uncover additional participants in the precursor‑shipping network, and the case may lead to new extradition or prosecution steps under U.S. and Mexican law.