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| Mexico arrests Zetas heavyweight Martínez | Mexico arrests Zetas heavyweight Martínez |
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| Mexican authorities are claiming another victory against the notorious Zetas drug cartel with the arrest of Salvador Alfonso Martínez Escobedo, who is suspected of masterminding a massacre of 72 migrants in Tamaulipas state in 2010. | Mexican authorities are claiming another victory against the notorious Zetas drug cartel with the arrest of Salvador Alfonso Martínez Escobedo, who is suspected of masterminding a massacre of 72 migrants in Tamaulipas state in 2010. |
| Navy spokesman José Luis Vergara announced that Martínez was arrested on Saturday. The man known as Squirrel also has been linked to the escape of 151 prisoners in 2010 from a jail in the city of Nuevo Laredo, the recent flight of 131 prisoners in the city of Piedras Negras and the killing of US citizen David Hartley in 2010 on Falcon Lake, which straddles the US-Mexico border. | Navy spokesman José Luis Vergara announced that Martínez was arrested on Saturday. The man known as Squirrel also has been linked to the escape of 151 prisoners in 2010 from a jail in the city of Nuevo Laredo, the recent flight of 131 prisoners in the city of Piedras Negras and the killing of US citizen David Hartley in 2010 on Falcon Lake, which straddles the US-Mexico border. |
| Vergara said Martínez was captured in Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas. He was shown to the news media on Monday. | Vergara said Martínez was captured in Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas. He was shown to the news media on Monday. |
| The navy said Martínez is also a suspect in dozens of killings of people who were buried in mass graves at the same site of the 2010 massacre of migrants. | The navy said Martínez is also a suspect in dozens of killings of people who were buried in mass graves at the same site of the 2010 massacre of migrants. |
| Nearly 200 bodies were discovered in April 2011 in the town of San Fernando, close to the US border. Those two crimes have been the most fatalities since Mexico's federal government launched an armed offensive against drug traffickers in December 2006. | Nearly 200 bodies were discovered in April 2011 in the town of San Fernando, close to the US border. Those two crimes have been the most fatalities since Mexico's federal government launched an armed offensive against drug traffickers in December 2006. |
| The mass prison escapes that authorities believe the 31-year-old Martínez is behind have been the largest in recent history. The most recent escape of 131 inmates was considered to be orchestrated by the Zetas to replenish its forces in northern Mexico, where it is in a war with the powerful Sinaloa cartel. | The mass prison escapes that authorities believe the 31-year-old Martínez is behind have been the largest in recent history. The most recent escape of 131 inmates was considered to be orchestrated by the Zetas to replenish its forces in northern Mexico, where it is in a war with the powerful Sinaloa cartel. |
| Martínez is considered to be the regional chief of Zetas for the northern states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and Coahuila, the more important areas for the brutal gang. He was "a trusted man and direct assistant" to Miguel Angel Treviño, one of the two feared alleged top leaders of the Zetas, Vergara said. | Martínez is considered to be the regional chief of Zetas for the northern states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and Coahuila, the more important areas for the brutal gang. He was "a trusted man and direct assistant" to Miguel Angel Treviño, one of the two feared alleged top leaders of the Zetas, Vergara said. |
| Mexican authorities had posed a $1m reward for Martínez. They say he headed the battle that erupted in 2010 between the Zetas and its previous ally the Gulf cartel. The Gulf gang has suffered major blows this year with the capture of its two main bosses. | Mexican authorities had posed a $1m reward for Martínez. They say he headed the battle that erupted in 2010 between the Zetas and its previous ally the Gulf cartel. The Gulf gang has suffered major blows this year with the capture of its two main bosses. |
| The death of David Hartley drew wide attention as it appeared Hartley and his wife, Tiffany, were on a personal trip when he was shot by Mexican criminals on 30 September 2010. The Hartleys were using personal watercraft on Falcon Lake when David Hartley was shot in the head and fell into the water. The navy is also blaming Martínez for the killing of the Tamaulipas state police commander and chief investigator on the case, an attack that hampered the investigation. | The death of David Hartley drew wide attention as it appeared Hartley and his wife, Tiffany, were on a personal trip when he was shot by Mexican criminals on 30 September 2010. The Hartleys were using personal watercraft on Falcon Lake when David Hartley was shot in the head and fell into the water. The navy is also blaming Martínez for the killing of the Tamaulipas state police commander and chief investigator on the case, an attack that hampered the investigation. |
| Mexican authorities announced in September that they had arrested Zetas drug lord Iván Velázquez Caballero, known as El Talibán or Z-50, who was at the centre of a Zetas feud that sparked a wave of massacres and shootings. | Mexican authorities announced in September that they had arrested Zetas drug lord Iván Velázquez Caballero, known as El Talibán or Z-50, who was at the centre of a Zetas feud that sparked a wave of massacres and shootings. |
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