Whack-a-mole: Mexico nabs drug boss tied to murder of poet's son

Mexico nabs drug boss tied to murder of poet's son | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "Mexican police have captured a suspected drug enforcer blamed for ordering the murder of the son of a prominent poet, which helped prompt national protests against the government's drug war strategy, authorities said on Wednesday.

Federal police caught Julio de Jesus Radilla, 34, known as 'El Negro' (The Black One), in the oil port of Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico where he was hiding out, regional police chief Luis Cardenas told reporters."

Whack-a-mole drug war: Mexican army arrests suspected drug boss and police ally

Mexican army arrests suspected drug boss and police ally | Reuters: "Mexican soldiers arrested a suspected drug boss and a police chief accused of protecting him on Thursday, blaming them for much of the violence terrorizing tourist towns near Mexico City.

In an early morning swoop, soldiers in black ski masks captured Victor Valdez, known as 'El Gordo Varilla' (The Big Stick), in Cuernavaca, a popular getaway south of Mexico City where drug violence is escalating.

Valdez is believed to be the second-in-command of the Cartel de Pacifico Sur (South Pacific Cartel) run by drug lord Hector Beltran Leyva, which is fighting rivals for control of Cuernavaca and the strategic Pacific resort city of Acapulco.

In a brief army presentation to reporters, Valdez said local police chief Juan Bosco helped the gang evade capture. Bosco was later arrested by soldiers in Cuernavaca, the army said."