Mexican police and soldiers have captured Omar Trevino Morales, widely considered to be the most important leader of the Zetas drug cartel that once carved a path of brutal bloodshed along the country's northern border with the United States.
National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido said in Mexico City on Wednesday the man known as "Z-42" was arrested during a pre-dawn raid in San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy suburb of the northern city of Monterrey.
A simultaneous raid on another street in the same suburb reaped Carlos Arturo Jimenez Encinas, allegedly Trevino's finance chief, Rubido said.
Tomas Zeron, the attorney general's criminal investigations chief, called Trevino "one of the most dangerous and bloodthirsty criminals in Mexico" and said he faced at least 11 criminal counts including drug trafficking, organised crime, kidnapping and oil theft. He also said Trevino faced a pending extradition request from the United States.
The Mexican government had offered a 30 million peso (HK$15.5 million) reward for his capture on weapons and organised crime charges.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration offered a US$5 million reward for his capture, saying he was wanted for drug trafficking. DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart said in a statement: "The Zetas represent the worst in global organised crime: violence, intimidation, corruption, and brutal killings.
"Today's arrest strikes at the heart of the leadership structure of the Zetas and should serve as yet another warning that no criminal is immune from arrest and prosecution."