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Purported son of Mexican drug lord captured
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
June 22nd, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
June 22nd, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
The Mexican navy has declared that the son of Sinaloa cartel leader
Joaquin Guzman, also known as "el Chapo," the country's most-wanted drug
lord, is now in captivity. "Following an intelligence operation, Jesus
Alfredo Guzman, the presumed son of Joaquin Guzman, was arrested this
morning," a written statement said. However - the suspect's identity is
now being questioned.
Attorney Heriberto Rangel Mendez, told The Associated Press he would show proof of the man's identity, but did not immediately offer further comment.
The Mexican Attorney General's Office has since issued a statement saying information identifying him as son of Guzman came from the U.S. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said the information came from Mexico.
"The Mexican Navy and Mexican law enforcement have said this is El Chapo's son and that's what we took," DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said. He says that the DEA is working separately to confirm the man's identity.
An official with the Mexican attorney general's office, speaking on the condition of anonymity said the office is also studying photographs of Guzman and his family. The suspect didn't resemble a photograph of Guzman's son recently issued by the U.S. Treasury Department.
The man arrested is suspected of links to drug trafficking, and was transferred to Mexico City under the watch of a heavy presence from security forces.
Guzman, billionaire head of the dreaded Sinaloa cartel, has a $5 million reward on his head in the United States. The feisty crime boss has long sparred with U.S. and Mexican authorities.
Both he and his wife Alejandrina Salazar were placed on a U.S. list of Sinaloa cartel operatives last year.
The U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of the fugitive drug lord's sons Ivan and Ovidio last month, effectively barring Americans from doing business with them.
Both sons are reported to have played "a significant role" in drug trafficking activities.
The arrest comes just a little over a week before Mexicans head to the polls to vote for a new president.
President Felipe Calderon's ruling National Action Party has lost much support in the wake of brutal drug violence that has killed more than 50,000 people since December 2006. Calderon's government has been harshly criticized for not doing enough to weaken the Sinaloa cartel.
© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.