'El Grande' arrested in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- The alleged Mexican drug cartel leader known as "El Grande" was arrested Sunday, a federal government spokesman said.

Alejandro Poire called the arrest of Sergio Villarreal Barragan "a crushing blow" to organized crime in Mexico, which has endured years of drug cartel violence that have left 28,000 dead, Notimex reported.

Villarreal Barragan, reputed to be a key figure in the Beltran Leyva drug operation, was taken into custody along with several alleged associates by Mexican military forces in Puebla state, the Mexican news agency said.