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'La Familia cartel boss' Mendez Vargas held in Mexico | 'La Familia cartel boss' Mendez Vargas held in Mexico |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has congratulated police on the capture of the alleged leader of the notorious La Familia drugs cartel. | Mexican President Felipe Calderon has congratulated police on the capture of the alleged leader of the notorious La Familia drugs cartel. |
Police arrested Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, also known as "The Monkey", in the central city of Aguascalientes. | Police arrested Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, also known as "The Monkey", in the central city of Aguascalientes. |
Mr Calderon described the capture as a great blow to organised crime. | Mr Calderon described the capture as a great blow to organised crime. |
La Familia has a reputation for gruesome violence but claims to protect local communities and promote family values. | La Familia has a reputation for gruesome violence but claims to protect local communities and promote family values. |
Mexico's security spokesman Alejandro Poire said the arrest had "destroyed the chain of command" of the cartel. | Mexico's security spokesman Alejandro Poire said the arrest had "destroyed the chain of command" of the cartel. |
The Mexican attorney general's office said Mr Mendez Vargas was "responsible for the transfer and sale of cocaine, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine in various states of Mexico and the US". | The Mexican attorney general's office said Mr Mendez Vargas was "responsible for the transfer and sale of cocaine, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine in various states of Mexico and the US". |
He is also accused of having masterminded the kidnappings and killings of rival gang members. | He is also accused of having masterminded the kidnappings and killings of rival gang members. |
The government had offered a $2.5m reward for information leading to his capture. | The government had offered a $2.5m reward for information leading to his capture. |
A previous leader of La Familia, Nazario Moreno, was killed by security forces in December 2010. | A previous leader of La Familia, Nazario Moreno, was killed by security forces in December 2010. |
His arrest led to a violent split in the gang. Mr Mendez Vargas is believed to remained head of the faction continuing under the name of La Familia. | His arrest led to a violent split in the gang. Mr Mendez Vargas is believed to remained head of the faction continuing under the name of La Familia. |
The other faction, called the Knights Templar, is believed to be led by Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez. | The other faction, called the Knights Templar, is believed to be led by Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez. |
These gangs are active in parts of south-west and central Mexico, in particular Michoacan, the state of Mexico and Guanajuato, according to Samuel Gonzalez Ruiz, the former head of Mexico's organised crime unit. | These gangs are active in parts of south-west and central Mexico, in particular Michoacan, the state of Mexico and Guanajuato, according to Samuel Gonzalez Ruiz, the former head of Mexico's organised crime unit. |
For Mr Gonzalez Ruiz, Mr Mendez Vargas's arrest will not have a big effect on the ground. | For Mr Gonzalez Ruiz, Mr Mendez Vargas's arrest will not have a big effect on the ground. |
"The impact will be totally limited because the illicit (drugs) market is there, the extortion is there, the kidnappings are there," he told the BBC. | "The impact will be totally limited because the illicit (drugs) market is there, the extortion is there, the kidnappings are there," he told the BBC. |
In 2009, when La Familia was still run by Nazario Moreno, an assessment by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said La Familia had a "Robin Hood-type mentality". | In 2009, when La Familia was still run by Nazario Moreno, an assessment by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said La Familia had a "Robin Hood-type mentality". |
"They believe they are doing God's work, and pass out bibles and money to the poor. La Familia Michoacana also gives money to schools and local officials," the DEA said. | "They believe they are doing God's work, and pass out bibles and money to the poor. La Familia Michoacana also gives money to schools and local officials," the DEA said. |
La Familia came to prominence in 2006 when suspected members threw five severed heads into a disco. A letter accompanying the heads declared: "Only those who deserve to die will die." | La Familia came to prominence in 2006 when suspected members threw five severed heads into a disco. A letter accompanying the heads declared: "Only those who deserve to die will die." |
In December that year, President Calderon, who is from Michoacan, deployed troops to the state to take on the gang, later extending his drug fight to other parts of Mexico. | In December that year, President Calderon, who is from Michoacan, deployed troops to the state to take on the gang, later extending his drug fight to other parts of Mexico. |
Since then at least 34,000 people have died, according to official figures. | Since then at least 34,000 people have died, according to official figures. |
The authorities have not updated these statistics since January. | The authorities have not updated these statistics since January. |
Several top drug bosses have been arrested during the past four and a half years. | Several top drug bosses have been arrested during the past four and a half years. |