Mexican military forces killed a suspected leader of the Los Reyes cartel during an operation in western Mexico, the country’s defense ministry announced on Tuesday. The operation took place in Tocumbo, a municipality in the state of Michoacán, a region long affected by cartel-related violence.

The individual killed was identified as Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, whom U.S. authorities named as a high-ranking hitman within the Los Reyes cartel, a faction linked to the broader Carteles Unidos criminal organization. The United States had previously offered a $3 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The defense ministry’s statement did not provide further details on the circumstances of the confrontation or whether other arrests were made during the operation. Mexican authorities have been intensifying efforts against organized crime groups as part of a sustained campaign to curb cartel-related violence that has plagued several states, including Michoacán.

The Los Reyes cartel operates primarily in Michoacán and has been involved in various illicit activities, including drug trafficking and violent confrontations with rival groups and security forces. The cartel is considered a significant component of Carteles Unidos, a coalition formed by several criminal organizations to consolidate control over territories and trafficking routes.

This latest development underscores ongoing challenges faced by Mexico in combating organized crime and the involvement of transnational efforts, such as U.S. cooperation, in targeting key figures within these networks. Authorities continue to pursue remaining cartel members in an effort to dismantle these criminal groups.