MEXICO: Army arrests suspected top cartel operative working with the Knights Templar drug gang operating mainly in Michoacan state

Record ID: 306142

  • Title: MEXICO: Army arrests suspected top cartel operative working with the Knights Templar drug gang operating mainly in Michoacan state
  • Date: 21st September 2011
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 20, 2011) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) SOLDIERS LEADING SAUL SOLIS SOLIS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "LYNX" INTO ROOM SOLIS BEING PRESENTED SOLDIERS LEADING MARIO ALBERTO GORDILLO RODRIGUEZ "EL MAYO" INTO ROOM MORE OF PRESENTATION SOLIS IN HANDCUFFS JOSE CUITLAHUAC RODRIGUEZ RANGEL BEING PRESENTED TOGETHER WITH SOLIS AND RODRIGUEZ SOLD
  • Embargoed: 6th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA4FIFJ6MINVA5MMGL2LHCHPIF6
  • Story Text: Mexican troops captured one of the suspected leaders of the drug gang Los Caballeros Templarios - or the Knights Templar - on Monday (September 19) in the latest blow to the gang that operates mainly in Michoacan.
    Troops arrested drug leader Saul Solis Solis, known by his nickname "El Lince," or "The Lynx", during a raid in the town of Mujica in the western state of Michoacan and no shots were fired, authorities said.
    "He was in charge of leading the mentioned drug cartel and controlling the sowing of drugs, drug trafficking and managing of hidden drug labs, extortions, kidnappings and killings in the municipalities of Huacana, Ario de Rosales, Nuevo Urecho, Tacambaro and Turicato, Michoacan, as well as the state of Mexico," said General Edgar Luis Villegas Melendez during a news conference in Mexico City.
    From 2003-2005, Solis worked as director of public security in town of Turicato in Michoacan.
    Solis is accused of being linked with several attacks to police stations in several cities around Michoacan on December 9, 2009.
    "Solis Solis is was one of the main suspects in an attack against military personnel by members of this criminal group on May 1, 2007 in Caracuaro, Michoacan where a Colonel and four soldiers were killed," Villegas Melendez added.
    He is related to Enrique Plancarte Solis, known as 'Kike Plancarte," who leads the Knights Templar drug cartel together with Servando "La Tuta" Gomez.
    Solis was arrested together with Mario Alberto Gordillo Rodriguez "El Mayo," Jose Cuitlahuac Rodriguez Rangel and a minor.
    Mexican authorities offered up to $15 million pesos for information leading to his capture.
    Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who hails from Michoacan, launched his army-led war on drug cartels in late 2006 on taking office, but now faces growing public alarm at the some 40,000 dead in the conflict across the country since then.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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