Zetas gang members arrested in Mexico Independence Day attack

by Betty McMahon    September 27, 2008

Three members of the violent Zetas drug cartel gang in Mexico were arrested Thursday, Sept. 25, for their part in grenade attacks on Mexico Independence Day celebrants in the city of Morelia, which killed eight and injured 106. The men were arrested in the western town of Apatzingán after the police received an anonymous tip.

The men, who appeared before the media with bruises on their faces, have admitted to their part in the crimes. Suspects were identified as Julio Cesar Modragon Mendoza, Juan Carlos Castro Galeana and Alfredo Rosas Elicea. "They gave statements to federal authorities admitting responsibility for detonating grenades during the celebrations," said Maricela Juarez, head of the organized crime investigations unit.

Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cardenas was captured and extradited to the United States last year. The Zetas, infamous for their brutality, are apparently filling that vacuum by taking more control of day-to-day cartel business. The fear is that, with this attack on the public, they have raised the stakes in the Mexican drug wars President Felipe Calderon has vowed to fight.

His crackdown has led to large seizures of drugs, arms and cash and a number of arrests but drug killings have soared.


 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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