Mexican officials announced that a suspected drug cartel leader was arrested by the Federal authorities in connection to a series of shootouts in a northern border city in Reynosa. The said man had been detained in Mexican capital, said by the National Security Commissioner official.
According Houston Chronicle, the suspect is identified as Cleofas Alberto Martinez Gutierrez, was caught with firearms, drugs as well as false identification. Martinez is arrested in suspicion of leading a group, involved on gunfire exchange incident with the government forces Sunday. Nine criminals were suspected killed during the said incident.
The shootout in Reynosa, Tamaulipas stemmed from the government's operation, together with the soldiers, marines and police intended to seize drug cartel operation on the said area, the Yucatan Times reported. An unnamed state official said, the main objective of the operation is to capture Reynosa's Gulf Cartel boss. However, officials did not mention whether Juan Manuel Loza, also called as "El Comandante Toro," was arrested during the said operation.
National Security Commissioner Renato Sales also did not name the group. Martinez is believed to be the second Reynosa Cartel boss, government officials said, Tampa Tribune reported. Government officials were also not allowed to disclose further information in public on the said operation. The alleged second drug cartel boss has been monitored by agents for four months, according to Federal police intelligence chief, Omar Garcia.
Violence related to drug trade had been happening in the recent years in the state of Tamaulipas. The Gulf Cartel and its former allies in the Zetas cartel had been fighting for many years. However, since last year, violence often erupted from Gulf Cartel's rival group.
On the Sunday shootout, the state government reported, at least three armed clashes happened over several hours, and gang members also set vehicles on fire and blocked roads. Four soldiers were injured when their vehicle overturned.
