Top drug lord among 11 dead in Mexican clashes

[News_Editor]

Top drug lord among 11 dead in Mexican clashes

2010-12-11 05:16:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

MICHOACAN, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican government spokesman Alejandro Poire on Friday announced that a total of eleven people were killed during clashes between the "La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel and security forces, including the cartel's leader and founder Nazario "El Chayo" Moreno Gonzalez.

"Diverse information obtained during the operation indicates that Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, also known as "El Chayo" or "El Doctor," was killed yesterday," Poire said.

Moreno was believed to have been killed in a series of battles which began on Wednesday night between gunmen of the "La Familia Michoacana" cartel and federal police in the central state of Michoacán. The exchange of fire began in Apatzingán and spread to other cities such as Uruapan and Morelia.

Authorities were offering a $2.4 million reward for Moreno Gonzalez, who was reportedly killed during a retreat in which the drug cartel suffered significant losses on Thursday evening. The "La Familia" cartel is Mexico's main trafficker of methamphetamine.

The armed conflicts left a total of eleven people killed. Five of them were federal police officers, three others were civilians and the remaining three were alleged drug cartel members. The civilians, an eight-month-old baby-girl, an adult and a 17-year-old girl, were killed as they were caught in the middle of the fire exchange.

The operation was launched as authorities received reports that armed men from the "La Familia" drug cartel were residing in Apatzingán. As the clashes intensified, the gunmen blocked several streets of the state's capital Morelia.

The bus station was also closed as some vehicles were set on fire. The five exit points of the city were closed with burned cars. On Friday, the situation reverted: transportation was restored and streets opened but schools and many businesses remained closed.

The death toll may increase as authorities informed that the drug cartel members were recovering bodies and wounded people as they retreated. The operative is still ongoing and more soldiers and federal police forces were sent to the state to secure the zone.

The "La Familia Michoacana" cartel began operating in 2000 under the name "La Empresa." The criminal organization has been perpetrating crimes against society since. In addition, to its drug trafficking activities, the organization also manufactures narcotics, commits kidnappings and murders and extorts businesses.

Moreno Gonzalez is the second top drug lord killed in the last months, after the killing on November 5 of Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, one of the leaders of the powerful Gulf Cartel, after a gunfight with the Mexican military in the northern border city of Matamoros.

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