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Mexico arrests Knights Templar Cartel leader linked to 35 murders

By Andrew V. Pestano
Mexican security forces said they captured a leader of the Knights Templar Cartel -- identified as Federico "N" -- who is accused of kidnapping, extortion and violence linked to 35 homicides. He is also accused of controlling the transport of drugs along Mexico's Pacific coast. Photo courtesy of Mexico Federal Police
Mexican security forces said they captured a leader of the Knights Templar Cartel -- identified as Federico "N" -- who is accused of kidnapping, extortion and violence linked to 35 homicides. He is also accused of controlling the transport of drugs along Mexico's Pacific coast. Photo courtesy of Mexico Federal Police

March 27 (UPI) -- Mexico's National Security Commission, or CNS, said Federal Police officers captured a leader of the Knights Templar Cartel who is connected to at least 35 murders.

The CNS said the suspect -- identified as Federico "N" -- is accused of kidnapping and extortion and is considered a generator of violence linked to 35 homicides. He was arrested in the state of Nayarit and then taken to a maximum security prison in the state of Sinaloa, the CNS said on Saturday.

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The Knights Templar Cartel, which is made up of remnants of the splintered La Familia Michoacana drug cartel, mainly operates in the state of Michoacán on Mexico's Pacific coast, south of Guadalajara.

When arrested, the suspect had fake documents in which he was identified as Raúl Ochoa, officials said. The CNS said authorities seized about 20 properties belonging to the suspect, which officials believe were illegally taken from their rightful owners or bought with illicit funds.

The suspect is also accused of controlling the transport of drugs on Mexico's Pacific coast coming from South America. Mexico's Federal Police has arrested dozens of Knights Templar Cartel members in recent years, crippling the organization's leadership.

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