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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mexico captures drug lord ‘Z-42’

Two with ties to Zetas arrested near Monterrey

Omar Trevino Morales, left, is moved from a military plane to a military vehicle in Mexico City after his arrest Wednesday. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY – Mexican police and soldiers on Wednesday 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 U.S.

National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido said at a news conference in Mexico City that the man known as “Z-42” was arrested in 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, organized crime, kidnapping and oil theft. He also said Trevino faced a pending extradition request from the United States.

The Mexican government had offered a $2 million reward for his capture on weapons and organized crime charges.

The suspect is the brother of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, described as the bloodthirsty leader of Mexico’s most violent cartel. Miguel Angel was arrested in July 2013, almost a year after Mexican marines killed Zetas’ other biggest leader, Heriberto Lazcano “El Lazca.”

Rubido said Omar, 38, took over leadership of Zetas after his brother’s arrest and immediately became a target of their investigation.

The hunt for him caught a break in February when authorities observed someone matching Trevino’s description at one of the houses around Monterrey where Jimenez Encinas, the alleged finance chief, was known to hold meetings, Rubido said. Surveillance was increased until Trevino’s identity was confirmed. Authorities discovered he was moving with a smaller than usual security detail to draw less attention.