Mexico swoops on alleged drug gang members
- 11 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Mexican marines arrested on Monday (October 29) nine suspected members of the Zetas drug cartel and seized 30 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rifles and drugs.
The men - seen in video footage provided to the media by the Navy - were arrested in Coahuila state while marines patrolled the area. Troops on patrol observed armed men in two vehicles. According to the Navy, the men entered a building upon seeing the soldiers.
The marines followed the men inside, where they found several other men as well as a stash of weapons and drugs. The weapons included eight rifles, three grenades, 43 chargers and explosives. The drugs included 1,500 kilograms of marijuana, some 40,000 doses of methamphetamine. They also seized five vehicles.
During the last few weeks, Mexican marines trained by the U.S. Navy have been heavily patrolling Coahuila state. Recently, Zetas drug cartel members have been suspected of fleeing from the neighbouring state of Tamaulipas into Coahuila.
Los Zetas kingpin Heriberto Lazcano, alias "The Executioner," was shot dead by marines on October 7 in the northern state of Coahuila. He was the highest-profile kingpin to fall in President Felipe Calderon's crackdown on the cartels and had a $5 million bounty on his head.
Mexican marines arrested on Monday (October 29) nine suspected members of the Zetas drug cartel and seized 30 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rifles and drugs.
The men - seen in video footage provided to the media by the Navy - were arrested in Coahuila state while marines patrolled the area. Troops on patrol observed armed men in two vehicles. According to the Navy, the men entered a building upon seeing the soldiers.
The marines followed the men inside, where they found several other men as well as a stash of weapons and drugs. The weapons included eight rifles, three grenades, 43 chargers and explosives. The drugs included 1,500 kilograms of marijuana, some 40,000 doses of methamphetamine. They also seized five vehicles.
During the last few weeks, Mexican marines trained by the U.S. Navy have been heavily patrolling Coahuila state. Recently, Zetas drug cartel members have been suspected of fleeing from the neighbouring state of Tamaulipas into Coahuila.
Los Zetas kingpin Heriberto Lazcano, alias "The Executioner," was shot dead by marines on October 7 in the northern state of Coahuila. He was the highest-profile kingpin to fall in President Felipe Calderon's crackdown on the cartels and had a $5 million bounty on his head.