The U.S. State Department has announced a significant reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the capture of two brothers, Rene and Alfonso Arzate Garcia, who are identified as leaders of the Sinaloa cartel in Baja California, specifically in Tijuana. This announcement was made public on February 27, 2026.
The offer comes in the wake of a new indictment against Rene Arzate Garcia, 42, who is also known by the alias “La Rana” (“The Frog”). Initially charged with drug-related offenses in San Diego, the updated indictment adds serious charges, including conspiracy, narcoterrorism, and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The U.S. government is offering a reward of $5 million for information about each brother, whose current locations remain unconfirmed. The State Department highlighted their critical role in controlling a major trafficking hub in Tijuana, which is pivotal to the operations of the Sinaloa cartel. Their dominance in the region provides the cartel with a tactical edge over competing organizations, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of activities across the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.
The announcement of the reward follows a significant recent event in the ongoing conflict between the Sinaloa cartel and its rival, the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Just days before this reward was unveiled, Mexican military forces eliminated Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” who was recognized as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel. This operation marked a notable achievement for the Mexican government”s efforts to combat cartel violence.
The escalating violence and power struggles between these cartels have turned California”s border with Mexico into a battleground. The U.S. State Department”s actions reflect a broader strategy aimed at dismantling the command structure of these notorious criminal organizations.
