Police in Mexico have arrested a leader of a key drug gang, the local Universal newspaper has said.
Carlos Beltran Leyva, a leader of a family-run drug cartel, was arrested on December 30 in the city of Culiacan, in Mexico's northwestern Sinaloa state, the paper said. Police seized fake documents, three small arms and ammunition from the captured drug kingpin.
Two weeks ago, Leyva's brother, Arturo Beltran Leyva, was killed by police during a shootout.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared a fight against drug trafficking in the country after taking power in 2006. Some 45,000 servicemen have been involved in anti-drug operations at the border between Mexico and the U.S.
Mexico has been the main transshipment point for drug trafficking from Latin America to the U.S., with the estimated annual supplies of around $40 billion.
According to the U.S. authorities, the Sinaloa Cartel is responsible for importing into the United States and distributing some 200 tons of cocaine and large amounts of heroin between 1990 and 2008.
MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti)
