US files new charges _ and offers rewards _ for Mexican cartel leaders

October 8th, 2009 Top Mexican cartel figure set to plead guiltySAN DIEGO — A man once considered a top figure in a notorious Mexican drug cartel plans to plead guilty in a San Diego criminal case, nearly 10 years after he was arrested while watching his son's soccer game in Tijuana, Mexico. A federal court docket shows Jesus "Chuy" Labra will change his plea next Thursday.

September 14th, 2009 31 Mexican police arrested for alleged drug tiesMEXICO CITY — Thirty-one police officers have been arrested in a central Mexican state on suspicion of collaborating with a gang of drug cartel hit men. The Public Safety Department says the officers were arrested as part of a months-long investigation into alleged ties between police and the Zetas in Hidalgo, a state north of Mexico City.

August 20th, 2009 A dozen new indictments against Mexican cartelsWASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors unveiled a dozen new indictments Thursday charging accused Mexican drug cartels members pumped vast quantities of drugs into major U.S. cities. Ten accused cartel leaders and dozens of others are charged in indictments unsealed in Chicago and New York.

August 11th, 2009 Officials: 3 arrested in cartel informant killingEL PASO, Texas — Three men were arrested Monday night in the shooting death of a U.S. drug informant in front of his home this spring, authorities said.

August 8th, 2009 Mexico captures lieutenant of Tijuana cartelMEXICO CITY —Mexican federal police say they have captured a top lieutenant of the Tijuana-based Arellano Felix cartel. Suspect Manuel Invanovich Zambrano Flores is among those listed on a U.S.

July 31st, 2009 4 arrested in California gun ring bustLOS ANGELES — Four people were arrested and charged Friday for their roles in a suspected gun ring that sold assault rifles and other high-powered weapons, with one man claiming he is a member of a notorious Mexican drug cartel, authorities said. Edgardo Prado Casteneda, Vicente Garcia, Scott Blanks and Victor Velasquez were arrested by federal authorities.

July 26th, 2009 Mexico police catch 11 cartel suspects at meth labMEXICO CITY — Mexican police say they have captured 11 suspected members of the La Familia cartel and seized a methamphetamine lab in the western state of Michoacan. The Public Safety Department says federal police detected the lab allegedly operated by La Familia after a strong chemical smell was reported in a rural area of the state.

July 21st, 2009 US offers $50M in rewards in drug war offensiveNEW YORK — The Department of State offered up to $50 million Monday for information leading to the arrests of 10 top Mexican drug suspects accused of key roles in a violent organization estimated to have sold more than $1 billion worth of drugs in the United States. U.S. Attorney Benton J.

July 15th, 2009 Mexican governor asks brother to turn himself inMEXICO CITY — The governor of the western Mexican state of Michoacan is asking his half brother to turn himself in to authorities investigating him for alleged links to drug traffickers. Gov. Leonel Godoy says he last saw Julio Godoy Toscano at their father's funeral three weeks ago.

June 19th, 2009 Mexico drug charges against 7 mayors, 20 officialsMEXICO CITY — Mexico levied organized crime and drug charges Thursday against seven mayors, the former state attorney general and 19 other officials in the western state of Michoacan for allegedly aiding a drug cartel. Three other mayors detained in raids across the state May 26 have not been charged, but will continue to be held pending investigations, officials said.

June 12th, 2009 Mexico nabs drug suspect wanted in Tijuana battlesMEXICO CITY — Mexican soldiers have captured suspected cartel member accused of leading bloody battles for smuggling turf routes in the northern city of Tijuana. Jose Filiberto Parra Ramos appears in a U.S.

June 8th, 2009 Mexico captures drug cartel suspect wanted in USMEXICO CITY — Mexican police have captured a woman wanted in the United States for allegedly smuggling $2 million in cocaine-trafficking profits for a powerful drug cartel. The Attorney General's Office says Olga Lerma was arrested in western Jalisco state after police spent three months tracking her movements.

June 3rd, 2009 Mexican cartel member shot and killed in El PasoEL PASO, Texas — Police in El Paso, Texas, say a Mexican man shot to death last month in front of a house was a midlevel official in the Juarez drug cartel. Officer Chris Mears said Wednesday that police have identified Jose Daniel Gonzalez Galeana as a lieutenant in the gang, which is blamed for countless killings across the Rio Grande from El Paso in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

April 30th, 2009 Mexico nabs Zeta gang leader on most-wanted listMEXICO CITY — Mexican police on Wednesday arrested suspected Zeta gang leader Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa, one of Mexico's 24 most-wanted drug traffickers. Sauceda Gamboa appears on a list of 24 alleged drug traffickers published by prosecutors in March.

February 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - More than 750 members of a Mexican drug-trafficking cartel were arrested during a 21-month operation by US, Mexican and Canadian police, the US Justice Department said Wednesday. The department said it had dealt a 'crushing blow' to the Sineloa cartel, also known as the Federation and one of the biggest drug gangs in Mexico.