Mexico Captures Purported Drug Capo Near Texas Border
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CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Mexican soldiers captured the purported leader of a Gulf Cartel faction in the northern border city of Matamoros on Friday, the state government said.
Tamaulipas state's coordinating group said in a statement that Angel Eduardo Prado Rodriguez, alias "Ciclon 7," was detained by soldiers before dawn. The statement said Prado Rodriguez was the last of 15 priority targets in the state's security plan.
Prado Rodriguez allegedly led the Ciclones, or Cyclones, faction of the Gulf Cartel that has been locked in a violent power struggle with the so-called Metros faction based in the border city of Reynosa.
Nora Gonzalez, spokeswoman for the city government, said multiple military and police helicopters were flying above the city Friday. She said Mayor Leticia Salazar had requested increased federal and military security in case the arrest led to more violence.
The Gulf Cartel has fragmented into various competing factions in recent years, but together they control much of the drug and human trafficking along the border with the southernmost part of Texas.
Government data show that the number of homicides in the state is down from last year. Between January and August there were 393 killings recorded, compared to 464 during the same months of 2014.
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