MEXICO: Gunmen steal cars and use them to block highway to protest arrest of alleged drug cartel leader
Record ID:
1540598
MEXICO: Gunmen steal cars and use them to block highway to protest arrest of alleged drug cartel leader
- Title: MEXICO: Gunmen steal cars and use them to block highway to protest arrest of alleged drug cartel leader
- Date: 11th June 2010
- Summary: MONTERREY, MEXICO (JUNE 09, 2010) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS AND TRUCKS BLOCKING HIGHWAYS POLICEMAN HOLDING WEAPON VARIOUS OF CARS AND TRUCKS BLOCKING ROADS POLICE HELICOPTER FLYING OVER AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NUEVO LEON STATE SECRETARY GENERAL, JAVIER TREVINO, SAYING: "There was an operative on behalf of the Mexican army in which an important arrest was made of one of the main leaders of a criminal organization, who was known as "El Tory." In effect, because of this arrest there were traffic jams in the city. The traffic problems were a sign of the dimension and importance of this operative carried out by the Mexican army and above all, of the successful arrest of this criminal." BUS BLOCKING ROAD SOLDIERS GUARDING STREET EXTERIOR OF STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE POLICEMEN GUARDING ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE MORE OF BUSES AND TRUCKS BLOCKING HIGHWAYS
- Embargoed: 26th June 2010 00:05
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA5FWUHFAZEFET9G757PB2Y9SAO
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Gunmen blocked main avenues in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Wednesday (June 09) to protest the arrest of a drug lieutenant.
Hector Raul Luna, who was known as "El Tory," led activities for Los Zetas cartel in the city. He was arrested during an army-led operative thanks to intelligence work.
Authorities said Luna was accused of firing at soldiers and the US consulate in the city.
In response to the attack, several groups blocked roads and streets with stolen vehicles and trucks. Eyewitnesses said drivers were threatened with weapons.
"There was an operative on behalf of the Mexican army in which an important arrest was made of one of the main leaders of a criminal organization, who was known as "El Tory." In effect, because of this arrest there were traffic jams in the city. The traffic problems were a sign of the dimension and importance of this operative carried out by the Mexican army and above all, of the successful arrest of this criminal," Nuevo Leon state secretary general, Javier Trevino, told a news conference.
Drug violence is surging in the northern industrial city of Monterrey and in nearby Reynosa on the U.S border as the powerful Gulf cartel battles its former armed wing, the Zetas.
Black-clad enforcers from the Gulf cartel over the border from Texas are attacking the Zetas, who split away to try to form their own cartel earlier this year.
Made up of elite former soldiers who switched sides to join the Gulf cartel in the 1990s, the Zetas are charging their old bosses taxes to use their routes, provoking almost daily shootouts as the two gangs face off along the border. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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