(Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Image)
U.S. intelligence aided in the capture of an alleged female ringleader of a cartel-linked baby trafficking and organ harvesting network, officials announced Wednesday.
The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), provided intelligence that supported the arrest of Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar, also known as “La Diabla,” according to an agency press release. Aguilar’s network lured pregnant women to remote locations, forced cesarean procedures, harvested organs from the mothers and sold the babies to couples in the U.S. for up to 250,000 pesos (roughly $14,000).
“This is one example of what terrorist cartels will do to diversify their revenue streams and finance operations,” NCTC Director Joe Kent said in a statement. “NCTC delivered critical intelligence on ‘La Diabla’s’ location and developed comprehensive analysis that enabled U.S. and Mexican law enforcement partners to take action. I am proud of our team’s ability to work with our forward-deployed U.S. partners and Mexican law enforcement to stop these horrific acts.”
Thanks to @POTUS, cartels are finally being treated as terrorists. @ODNIgov’s NCTC recently provided intel to Mexican law enforcement partners that led to the arrest of Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar, known as ‘La Diabla’ — a CJNG cartel-affiliated baby trafficker, in Juarez, Mexico.
Her network lured pregnant women, carried out illegal C-sections, harvested organs, and sold newborns. Just one example of how far these terrorists will go to diversify their revenue streams and fund their operations.
I could not be prouder of our team and partners @CBP, @USMarshalsHQ, @StateDeptDSS, @FBIElPaso, @DHSgov.
Read more about the efforts behind the arrest of “La Diabla” here:
Thanks to @POTUS, cartels are finally being treated as terrorists. @ODNIgov‘s NCTC recently provided intel to Mexican law enforcement partners that led to the arrest of Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar, known as ‘La Diabla’ — a CJNG cartel-affiliated baby trafficker, in Juarez,… pic.twitter.com/CRNgJWVHkV
— NCTC Director Joe Kent (@NCTCKent) September 24, 2025
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)-affiliated baby trafficking ringleader was captured in Juarez, Mexico, on Sept. 2, according to ODNI. The operation was executed by Mexican law enforcement partners and Fiscalia Especializada en la Mujer (the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Women) with the support of the U.S. Marshals Service El Paso, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation El Paso, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to the press release. (Read more: Daily Caller, 9/25/2025) (Archive)