Agents of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and the Attorney General's Office (FGE) of Sonora arrested four members of a criminal group and killed Francisco Manuel Romero Carranza "El Meny Carranza".
Through X, the Security Cabinet of the government of Mexico detailed that these actions resulted from naval intelligence and an operation in the vicinity of the town of San Antonio, in which there was air support from two helicopters, one aircraft, and ground equipment.
"The operational personnel were attacked with gunshots, so they repelled the aggression in accordance with the protocols of action, in which Francisco 'N', alias 'El Meny Carranza', identified as a priority target and generator of violence in the region, lost his life," he explained.
It should be noted that Romero Carranza is identified as the second in command of the criminal group "Los Fantasmas" serving "Los Chapitos" of the Sinaloa Cartel, and that he escaped from the Hermosillo prison last March, during an operation by land and air in which, in addition, four people were arrested.
He added that seven firearms, 45 magazines, cartridges, four vehicles, three ballistic vests, and a bag of marijuana were seized.
"El Meny Carranza" escapes
In March 2026, he was arrested by the Attorney General's Office of Sonora, but he escaped from the Hermosillo prison on July 11, along with two other inmates.
A follow-up report indicat…
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Agents of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), and the Attorney General's Office (FGE) of Sonora arrested four members of a criminal group and killed Francisco Manuel Romero Carranza, "El Meny Carranza."
Via X, Mexico's government Security Cabinet detailed that these actions resulted from naval intelligence and an operation in the vicinity of the town of San Antonio, which included air support from two helicopters, one aircraft, and ground equipment.
"The operational personnel were attacked with gunfire, so they repelled the aggression in accordance with operational protocols, in which Francisco 'N,' alias 'El Meny Carranza,' lost his life. He was identified as a priority target and generator of violence in the region," it explained.
It should be noted that Romero Carranza is identified as the second in command of the criminal group "Los Fantasmas," which serves "Los Chapitos" of the Sinaloa Cartel, and that he escaped from the Hermosillo prison in March during a ground and air operation in which four people were also arrested.
It added that seven firearms, 45 magazines, cartridges, four vehicles, three ballistic vests, and a bag of marijuana were seized.
Francisco "N," alias El Meny Carranza, is killed (10/24/26). Photo: @GabSeguridadMX
In March 2026, he was arrested by the Sonora Attorney General's Office, but he escaped from the Hermosillo prison on July 11, along with two other inmates. A follow-up report indicates that there was an arrest warrant and a reward of one million pesos for information leading to his capture.
According to ministerial reports, "El Meny" maintained ties with Salú Francisco Hernández Tenorio, "El Ponchis" or "El Fantasma," identified as the alleged leader of "Los Fantasmas." An intelligence file from September 2024 links that cell to the "Los Chapitos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The reports place the group's presence in Sáric, Tubutama, Trincheras, Santa Ana, Altar, and Magdalena de Kino, which allows for gauging the regional relevance of the target.
During October, naval intelligence work identified joint movements of both targets through Magdalena de Kino, Ímuris, Arizpe, and Cucurpe. That surveillance made it possible to narrow down a location zone in the municipality of Arizpe.
Romero Carranza had re-arrest warrants and was named in various cases for crimes such as criminal association, corruption of minors, attempted aggravated homicide, illegal deprivation of liberty, crimes against health, and aggravated kidnapping.
The escape also opened an investigation into the conditions under which the three inmates managed to leave the penitentiary. As part of the inquiries, four public servants of the prison — two custodians and two surveillance supervisors — were arrested for their alleged responsibility in the crime of aggravated prisoner escape.
With the death of "El Meny," the other two men reported as escapees from Cereso 2 remain to be located: "El Mike" and "El Güero," who also had rewards announced by the state Attorney General's Office.
Reward for Francisco Manuel Romero Carranza, "El Meny Carranza." Photo: Attorney General's Office (FGE) of Sonora
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