Mexican police arrest top drug boss

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Mexico City, Feb. 27, (dpa/GNA) - One of Mexico's most wanted drug cartel bosses, Servando Gomez Martinez, was detained in the city of Morelia, police said Friday.

Gomez Martinez, known as La Tuta, is considered the leader of the Knights Templar cartel, a powerful drug and trafficking organization in the western state of Michoacan.

Police said Gomez Martinez - who was wanted for organized crime, kidnapping, homicide and robbery - would be transferred to Mexico City.

He was a rural schoolteacher prior to rising through the ranks of one of Mexico's biggest cartels. The Mexican prosecutor had offered a reward of 30 million pesos (2 million dollars) for information that would lead to the arrest of the 49-year-old.

Gomez Martinez had often posted video messages online and gave interviews to local broadcasters. In 2009, he called a television station that was broadcasting live to say that cartels were a "necessary evil."

"I will never let anyone capture me on this earth and I hope God gives that opportunity," he said. In videos posted in recent months, he accused the authorities of harassing his family.

Gomez Martinez began selling drugs in 2001, and went on to join the La Familia cartel, then run by drug boss Nazario Moreno - known as El Chayo, who was killed by police in 2014.

Gomez Martinez formed the Knights Templar in 2010.
Before his arrest, security forces had intensified their search, arresting several politicians in the state of Michoacan with alleged links to the cartel, including one acting mayor.

Murders, extortion, kidnappings and attacks on police have been attributed to him.

GNA