Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Mexico captures Knights Templar drug cartel leader

-

Mexican police captured Friday most-wanted drug lord Servando Gomez, whose Knights Templar cartel tormented western Michoacan state, smuggled drugs to the United States and illegally shipped iron ore to China.

The man nicknamed "La Tuta" was detained by federal officers without a shot fired in Morelia, Michoacan's capital, following months of intelligence work, two security officials told AFP.

The 49-year-old former teacher was found in a house in the city, apparently without any bodyguards, in a search of a neighborhood that started at 3:00 am, according to a federal intelligence service official.

Gomez had eluded authorities last year despite a massive manhunt in the mountains of Michoacan with help from a "rural defense" force comprised of former vigilantes who took up arms against the Knights Templar.

With his arrest, the authorities have now taken down the four top leaders of the cult-like cartel, dealing a huge blow to a group that once dominated the agricultural and mining state through murder, kidnappings and extortion.

Mexican police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City  on February ...
Mexican police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City, on February 27, 2015
Alfredo Estrella, AFP

The capture is a victory for President Enrique Pena Nieto amid falling approval ratings and public anger over his handling of violence in the neighboring state of Guerrero, where 43 students were allegedly killed by a gang in league with local police.

His much-maligned attorney general, Jesus Murillo Karam, was stepping down on Friday.

Pena Nieto confirmed the arrest on Twitter, saying it "strengthens the rule of law and we continue marching toward a peaceful Mexico."

US Drug Enforcement Administration chief Michele Leonhart congratulated Mexican officials on "another win for Mexico in the fight against brutal criminal cartels like the Knights Templar."

While the government has neutralized some of the country's most wanted kingpins since Pena Nieto took office in December 2012, violence continues to afflict Mexico.

Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence official, told AFP that Gomez's capture was "important in terms of symbolism" but that the man was already isolated.

"His capture should not majorly change the criminal scene," he said, noting that Michoacan is struggling with the emergence of new armed groups and infighting among vigilantes.

- Online videos -

Gomez became the de facto boss after the group's founder, Nazario "El Chayo" Moreno, was killed by marines in March 2014. (Moreno had been wrongly declared dead by officials in 2010).

Unlike the more shadowy gangsters of Mexico's underworld, Gomez was a talkative former school teacher who appeared in online videos and television interviews.

Knights Templar drug cartel leader Servando Gomez -- alias
Knights Templar drug cartel leader Servando Gomez -- alias "La Tuta" -- was one of Mexico's most wanted fugitives
, Secretaria de Seguridad Publica/AFP

He nurtured a Robin Hood image in his mountain hometown of Arteaga, where residents told AFP journalists during a visit in May 2014 that Gomez threw parties, sent gifts and gave out cash.

His mother owns a ranch there where roosters are bred for cockfights. An ornate family mausoleum, where his father is entombed, lies prominently at the cemetery's entrance. An ex-wife lives in a pink house.

The goateed gangster always wore a baseball cap, jeans and a gun holstered to his belt.

Some of his videos ensnared local politicians caught sharing beers or casually chatting with him around a table, including a former interim governor who was later arrested.

Appearing in front of cows or surrounded by masked gunmen, he used videos to rail against his rivals, but claimed that his gang wanted "peace and calm" in Michoacan.

Gomez told Britain's Channel 4 News in a January 2014 interview, that being a teacher was "a very healthy and honest job, but due to my aspirations and my hyperactive nature, it didn't satisfy me."

- Asia connection -

At the height of its power, the cartel imported drug precursors from Asia to manufacture crystal meth before exporting the potent drug to the United States.

The Knights Templar, whose members were made to read a religion-tinged codebook, is a spinoff of another gang called La Familia Michoacana.

An armored truck of Mexican Federal Police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office ...
An armored truck of Mexican Federal Police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City on February 27, 2015
Omar Torres, AFP

The organization diversified its business, tapping iron ore mines and exporting the mineral to China via the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas until the military took it over in late 2013.

Civilians formed vigilante forces in February 2013 to expel the cartel from their towns, accusing local police of either turning a blind eye or colluding with the gang.

Juana Francisca Reyes, a former Michoacan rural defense leader, told AFP that Gomez's arrest was "very important and a triumph for us."

The federal government backed the civilian militias and deputized them in May 2014. But the government said the "rural force" would be disbanded following infighting.

Mexican police captured Friday most-wanted drug lord Servando Gomez, whose Knights Templar cartel tormented western Michoacan state, smuggled drugs to the United States and illegally shipped iron ore to China.

The man nicknamed “La Tuta” was detained by federal officers without a shot fired in Morelia, Michoacan’s capital, following months of intelligence work, two security officials told AFP.

The 49-year-old former teacher was found in a house in the city, apparently without any bodyguards, in a search of a neighborhood that started at 3:00 am, according to a federal intelligence service official.

Gomez had eluded authorities last year despite a massive manhunt in the mountains of Michoacan with help from a “rural defense” force comprised of former vigilantes who took up arms against the Knights Templar.

With his arrest, the authorities have now taken down the four top leaders of the cult-like cartel, dealing a huge blow to a group that once dominated the agricultural and mining state through murder, kidnappings and extortion.

Mexican police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City  on February ...

Mexican police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City, on February 27, 2015
Alfredo Estrella, AFP

The capture is a victory for President Enrique Pena Nieto amid falling approval ratings and public anger over his handling of violence in the neighboring state of Guerrero, where 43 students were allegedly killed by a gang in league with local police.

His much-maligned attorney general, Jesus Murillo Karam, was stepping down on Friday.

Pena Nieto confirmed the arrest on Twitter, saying it “strengthens the rule of law and we continue marching toward a peaceful Mexico.”

US Drug Enforcement Administration chief Michele Leonhart congratulated Mexican officials on “another win for Mexico in the fight against brutal criminal cartels like the Knights Templar.”

While the government has neutralized some of the country’s most wanted kingpins since Pena Nieto took office in December 2012, violence continues to afflict Mexico.

Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence official, told AFP that Gomez’s capture was “important in terms of symbolism” but that the man was already isolated.

“His capture should not majorly change the criminal scene,” he said, noting that Michoacan is struggling with the emergence of new armed groups and infighting among vigilantes.

– Online videos –

Gomez became the de facto boss after the group’s founder, Nazario “El Chayo” Moreno, was killed by marines in March 2014. (Moreno had been wrongly declared dead by officials in 2010).

Unlike the more shadowy gangsters of Mexico’s underworld, Gomez was a talkative former school teacher who appeared in online videos and television interviews.

Knights Templar drug cartel leader Servando Gomez -- alias

Knights Templar drug cartel leader Servando Gomez — alias “La Tuta” — was one of Mexico's most wanted fugitives
, Secretaria de Seguridad Publica/AFP

He nurtured a Robin Hood image in his mountain hometown of Arteaga, where residents told AFP journalists during a visit in May 2014 that Gomez threw parties, sent gifts and gave out cash.

His mother owns a ranch there where roosters are bred for cockfights. An ornate family mausoleum, where his father is entombed, lies prominently at the cemetery’s entrance. An ex-wife lives in a pink house.

The goateed gangster always wore a baseball cap, jeans and a gun holstered to his belt.

Some of his videos ensnared local politicians caught sharing beers or casually chatting with him around a table, including a former interim governor who was later arrested.

Appearing in front of cows or surrounded by masked gunmen, he used videos to rail against his rivals, but claimed that his gang wanted “peace and calm” in Michoacan.

Gomez told Britain’s Channel 4 News in a January 2014 interview, that being a teacher was “a very healthy and honest job, but due to my aspirations and my hyperactive nature, it didn’t satisfy me.”

– Asia connection –

At the height of its power, the cartel imported drug precursors from Asia to manufacture crystal meth before exporting the potent drug to the United States.

The Knights Templar, whose members were made to read a religion-tinged codebook, is a spinoff of another gang called La Familia Michoacana.

An armored truck of Mexican Federal Police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office ...

An armored truck of Mexican Federal Police stand guard outside the General Prosecutor's office in Mexico City on February 27, 2015
Omar Torres, AFP

The organization diversified its business, tapping iron ore mines and exporting the mineral to China via the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas until the military took it over in late 2013.

Civilians formed vigilante forces in February 2013 to expel the cartel from their towns, accusing local police of either turning a blind eye or colluding with the gang.

Juana Francisca Reyes, a former Michoacan rural defense leader, told AFP that Gomez’s arrest was “very important and a triumph for us.”

The federal government backed the civilian militias and deputized them in May 2014. But the government said the “rural force” would be disbanded following infighting.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Social Media

Wanna buy some ignorance? You’re in luck.

Tech & Science

Under new legislation that passed the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the United States.

Life

Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest often suggest travel destinations based on your likes and viewing habits.

Social Media

From vampires and wendigos to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories.