HomeNewsBriefMexico Forces Pour into Michoacan to Capture 'La Tuta'
BRIEF

Mexico Forces Pour into Michoacan to Capture 'La Tuta'

LA FAMILIA MICHOACANA / 11 JUL 2011 BY JEN SOKATCH EN

Some 1,800 Federal Police gathered in the west Mexico state of Michoacan in order to track down the leader of drug trafficking organization the Caballeros Templarios.

Black Hawk helicopters, armored vehicles and ambulances have been sent to this crime-ridden state in search of Servando Gomez Martines, alias "La Tuta," leader of the Caballeros Templarios, reports Milenio.

The security forces have taken control of major road networks in the state, following the use of roadblocks by the criminal organization in recent weeks.

The Caballeros Templarios (Knights Templar) is a splinter group of the Familia Michoacana drug gang, which emerged earlier this year in the state of Michoacan. On Thursday, confrontations between security forces and suspected members of the group left at least seven dead and three police injured.

Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, alias "El Chango," who led the other faction of the Familia, was captured in June, leading the authorities to say the organization was on the verge of being wiped out.

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