Reputed Juárez cartel leader arrested; killings continue
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 07/16/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

Juarez Violence
Jul 16:


A man reputed to be a key member of the Juárez drug cartel has been captured by the Mexican army, military officials said even as the rash of killings continued, including the slaying of three men on Tuesday afternoon.

On July 10, soldiers arrested Gonzalo Garcia Garcia, alias "El Chalo Garcia," on organized crime, drug and weapons charges in the town of Lazaro Cardenas, in southern Chihuahua state.

Garcia is accused of being a lieutenant in the Vicente Carrillo Fuentes organization and one of the bosses responsible for drug trafficking and related murders and kidnappings in the state of Chihua hua, military officials said.

Garcia allegedly admitted being an associate of alleged cartel lieutenant Pedro "El Tigre" Sanchez, who was captured in May.

Garcia was arrested along with Ricardo "El Kabe" de la Rosa Haros and Guerrero Antonio "El Toño" Flores Maris cal in a bust that seized two bulletproof Jeep Cherokees, five rifles, a grenade, 46 marijuana packs, uniforms for the Federal Investigations Agen cy, or AFI, and other items, officials said.

The killings have surpassed 600 this year in Juárez. Five homicides occurred Monday, including Alberto Benjamin Varela Delgadillo, 38, the captain of the special tactical group at Juárez's Cereso pri son. He was fatally shot Monday night after he left work.

In another

homicide, Francisco Basurto Carrillo, 31, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly telling his mother he got drunk and shot and killed his friend during an argument Monday night in Colonia Hacienda Universidad.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.



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