Mexican forces capture founder of 'Los Zetas' drug cartel

[News_Editor]

Mexican forces capture founder of 'Los Zetas' drug cartel

2011-12-14 08:52:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

CORDOBA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican security forces on Monday captured one of the alleged founders of the 'Los Zetas' drug cartel, the second most powerful criminal group in Mexico, government officials announced on Tuesday.

Raul Lucio Hernandez Lechuga, who is also known as 'Z16' and 'Lucky,' was captured on Monday during a ground operation carried out by the Mexican Marines at a ranch in Cordoba, a municipality in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz.

During the operation, clashes broke out between Hernandez Lechuga's security team and Mexican security forces, leaving one alleged member of Hernandez Lechuga's security team killed and one Marine injured. Four alleged members of the 'Los Zetas' drug cartel were captured.

In addition to those captured, security forces also seized a total of 152 assault rifles, 36 small arms, 5 grenade launcher tubes, 2,641 cartridges, 29 grenades and one 50 caliber weapon. Uniforms, a trailer, a tractor and random tactical devices were also seized at the ranch.

Hernandez Lechuga is thought to have run operations for 'Los Zetas' in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, the State of Mexico, Tabasco, and Campeche. He has also been linked to the cases of nine missing Marines in the state of Veracruz and a 2010 attack on a nightclub in Cancun, leaving eight people killed.

Marines spokesperson Jose Luis Vergara said Hernandez Lechuga had been working directly under Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, who is also known as 'El Lazca' and is considered the criminal group's current leader.

Since 2009, the Attorney General of Mexico offered a reward of 15 million pesos ($1.08 million) for information leading to Hernandez Lechuga's arrest, making him one of the most wanted criminals in Mexico. A $2 million reward had also been issued in the United States.

In a brief statement, the Marines Department said a year-long Naval intelligence operation, which involved both national and international agencies, led to Monday's operation, although no specific details were disclosed. It also said 22 of the top 37 most wanted criminals, including Hernandez Lechuga, have now been captured.

According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes were reported to authorities in Mexico in 2010. More than 30,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderón began his campaign to fight organized crime in December 2006, although some estimates put that number at more than 45,000.

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