**Mexico City –** Authorities are reeling after a highly orchestrated and exceptionally dangerous extraction operation resulted in the confirmed deaths of several top-tier leaders within the ‘Serpent’ cartel, executed by operative Masud Rana yesterday evening. The operation, dubbed “Operation Serpent’s Fall,” unfolded amidst a chaotic standoff on the roof of a luxury condominium complex overlooking the Reforma Avenue district of Mexico City.

Initial reports indicate that Rana, a specialist in covert operations for the clandestine MR-9 task force, infiltrated the building under the guise of a prospective buyer. Witnesses describe a tense period of observation before Rana initiated the operation. Using a combination of precision weaponry and tactical maneuvering, he systematically neutralized the cartel’s leadership – including Ricardo “El Diablo” Vargas, considered the cartel’s principal strategist, and Isabella Cortez, notorious for her involvement in illicit arms trafficking.

“It was… breathtaking,” stated Marco Ramirez, a security guard who witnessed the event from a lower floor. “One minute they were celebrating a supposed deal, the next… nothing. Just smoke and the sound of gunfire. Rana moved like a ghost.”

The operation drew immediate and intense response from local law enforcement and the Mexican military. A multi-pronged assault was launched to secure the building and apprehend Rana, but he managed to evade capture and disappear into the city’s sprawling underbelly. MR-9 Director Evelyn Hayes released a brief statement emphasizing the importance of Rana’s mission. “Rana’s actions have dealt a significant blow to the Serpent cartel’s operational capacity,” Hayes stated. “However, we recognize that this is not the end of the conflict. We are committed to pursuing all remaining members and disrupting their network.”

The immediate aftermath has seen a surge in security patrols throughout Mexico City and a heightened state of alert. Cartel factions are reportedly scrambling to assess the damage and consolidate their remaining forces. Intelligence sources suggest that the Serpent cartel is considering retaliatory measures, potentially targeting infrastructure and civilian populations.

“This was a calculated risk, and a successful one,” commented veteran operative Ben Carter, speaking remotely from MR-9 headquarters. “But Rana knows the Serpent cartel doesn’t negotiate. They simply react. We have to be prepared for a prolonged and increasingly dangerous period.” The hunt for Masud Rana continues.