Mexico captures drug cartel leader
Jun 23, 2008 10:53 AM

Mexican soldiers captured one of the top leaders of the notorious Tijuana cartel at a childrens' party in this northern border city, police said.

Filiberto Parra Ramos, nicknamed The Bitch, was arrested along with 58 other men on Saturday by soldiers who raided the party in a neighbourhood of Tijuana across the US border from San Diego, California.

"When they identified him they separated him from the group," said a spokesman for the Baja California state police.

Parra Ramos is considered one of top leaders of the Tijuana cartel, which is headed by the Arellano Felix family.

President Felipe Calderon has deployed 25,000 troops and federal police to fight the well-armed cartels that smuggle cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines to the United States.

About 1,550 people have died this year as drug gangs battle each other and security forces.

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