Rechercher

/ languages

Choisir langue
 

Mexico

'The King' is arrested

Article published on the 2008-10-22 Latest update 2008-10-22 15:51 TU

Mexican police arrested Jesus Zambada Garcia, a top drug trafficker in the Sinaloa cartel known as "the king" after a shootout on the streets of Mexico City, government officials said Wednesday. He had been picked up after the shootout with 15 others on Monday, but originally gave a false name, and police were initially unaware that he was among those arrested.

Print the article

Send the article

Comments on article


Zambada Garcia was "charged with controlling imports of cocaine and products for methamphetamine production via Mexico City's international airport," said federal prosecutor Eduardo Medina Mora.

Zambada Garcia is a leader of the Pacific coast-based drug cartel in Sinaloa, along with top chief Joaquin Guzman, who escaped from a high-security prison in 2001.

'The king' is the second top member of the Sinaloa cartel to be captured this year-- Alfredo Beltran Leyva was arrested in January 2008.

More than 3,500 people have died in Mexico this year, as major drug lords have battled it out on the streets for more territory in the lucrative drug trade.

In related news, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Mexico Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the war against drugs with top officials.

Officials said that she would be discussing the Merida Initiative, a 400-million-dollar aid program to help Mexico and Central America fight drug cartels.

The bill was approved in US Congress, but a bilateral letter of understanding must be signed before it goes into effect. Rice is not expected to return to the US with the letter, but a State Department spokesman said he expected it to be signed soon.