Suspected Cartel Members in Custody

Last Update: 10:36 am

Two suspected drug cartel members are in police custody.

Gilberto Barragan Balderas is a suspected Gulf Cartel kingpin. He was allegedly running the day to day operations in Miguel Aleman and defending the region against attacks by rival cartel the Zetas.

Balderas was arrested, along with two associates, during a the drug boss's birthday party in Reynosa.

The DEA had a $5 million reward for Balderas. He allegedly was using intelligence to move drugs for both the Gulf cartel and the Zetas before the cartels split.

Mexican police picked up Balderas, along with two associates, at the drug boss's birthday party in Reynosa, this week.

Right now, no formal charges have been filed. Forty-one-year old Balderas was named in a 2008 indictment on drug trafficking charges.

The Zeta's reach is growing. They have been spotted across from the Rio Grande Valley in Mexico, in the cities of Reynosa, Faclon Lake, Matamoros and in San Fernando. The Zetas are known to battle the military and other cartels for control.

About 1,200 miles south of Mexico in Guatemala, the main suspect tied to the massacre of 27 farm workers last weekend is in custody.

Hugo Gomez Vasquez was identified as the local leader of Los Zetas. He was also a member of Guatemala's elite military unit known as the Kailbiles. He says he is innocent.

The president of Guatemalan Alvaro Colom said members of the Zetas are responsible and no Mexican members were involved. He is trying to stop the flow of weapons and to prevent further killings in his country.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Su ... LjUgw.cspx