MEXICO: Authorities present to the media alleged hitman, Ricardo Benitez, accused of working for the Beltran-Leyva cartel in the state of Guerrero

Record ID: 303765

  • Title: MEXICO: Authorities present to the media alleged hitman, Ricardo Benitez, accused of working for the Beltran-Leyva cartel in the state of Guerrero
  • Date: 16th August 2011
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RICARDO BENITEZ SERVIN WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE ESCORTED BY SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN VARIOUS OF BENITEZ SERVIN DURING PRESENTATION COLONEL RICARDO TREVILLA ARMY SPOKESMAN DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLONEL RICARDO TREVILLA ARMY SPOKESMAN, SAYING: "The arrested used extreme violence against
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2011 13:00
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  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA3Z09HZ0UCJP8EHJ1UXYEMOFA7
  • Story Text: Mexican troops on Monday (August 15) announced the capture of a senior hitman linked to the Beltran Leyva drug cartel.
    During a news conference, the army said they had arrested Ricardo Benitez Servin, alias "El Mudo" (Mute) in Cancun. He was in charge of criminal operations for the cartel along the coast in the state of Guerrero.
    After several arrests of key cartel members, the Beltran Leyva cartel has been significantly weakened, the army said.
    According to authorities, Benitez Servin was initially a drug dealer in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo but gained prominence within cartel ranks after carrying out several executions.
    "The arrested used extreme violence against rival gang members and this helped him to gain a better position within the ranks of Beltran Leyva hitmen," said Army spokesman, Colonel Ricardo Trevilla.
    He also rose ranks after several of his leaders were arrested.
    "With the arrests of Alvarez Vazquez and Sepulveda Salto, we took control of the criminal group and named Benitez Servin chief of the market, gaining prominence within the organisation. When Valdez Villarreal (La Barbie) was arrested this helped him to gain even more prominence in the area and he unleashed a wave of violence against rival groups," added Trevilla.
    Benitez Servin fought against La Familia Michoacana (the Family) drug cartel for control over Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
    Troops seized two weapons and two vehicles from Benitez Servin upon his arrest.
    Drug violence has escalated across Mexico as President Felipe Calderon goes after powerful cartels and as rival gangs fight over smuggling turf. More than 44,000 people have died in drug violence since Calderon took office in late 2006.
    While much of the bloodshed is centered in northern Mexico, violence has climbed along the Pacific coast, since security forces killed a top drug lord, Arturo Beltran Leyva, in a shootout in Cuernavaca in December 2009.
    His death kicked off a power struggle within his cartel, and rival gangs have been seeking to co-opt his territory.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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