This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7952981.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mexican drugs lord son arrested | Mexican drugs lord son arrested |
(10 minutes later) | |
Vicente Zambada, the son of one of Mexico's top drug barons, has been captured, officials say. | Vicente Zambada, the son of one of Mexico's top drug barons, has been captured, officials say. |
Mr Zambada was in charge of operations for the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's most powerful drugs gang, said the country's attorney general's office. | Mr Zambada was in charge of operations for the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's most powerful drugs gang, said the country's attorney general's office. |
His father, Ismael, is believed to be a senior leader of the cartel. | His father, Ismael, is believed to be a senior leader of the cartel. |
Gang warfare and drugs-related violence have soared in Mexico, with more than 6,000 drugs-related killings in the country in 2008. | |
Vicente Zambada, also know as "El Vicentillo", was arrested on Wednesday in an exclusive area of Mexico City, said officials at a news conference. | |
They said the arrest followed reports from neighbours of suspicious activity in the area. | |
A stockpile of weapons and cash were also seized by police. | |
Ricardo Cabrera of the attorney general's office said the arrest of the younger Zambada would significantly affect the Sinaloa cartel's operations. | |
Ismael Zambada's brother, Jesus "The King" Zambada, was arrested last year. | |
Most wanted | |
Gangs in Mexico are fighting a vicious turf war in the north of the country over lucrative smuggling routes into the US. | |
The Sinaloa gang is reportedly controlled by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, who escaped from prison in 2001 and is believed to be at large in Mexico or Central America. | |
He is estimated to have a personal fortune of $1bn (£722m) and has been blamed by Mexican officials for much of the continuing violence. | |
President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of soldiers close to the border with the US in an attempt to take back control. | President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of soldiers close to the border with the US in an attempt to take back control. |
The US has also offered assistance, and this week said it would be sending troops or anti-narcotics agents to the Mexican border. |
Previous version
1
Next version