Raul Fernandez, a suspected leader of the Zetas drug cartel is being presented to the media in Mexico City. (Reuters photo)

Official: Mexico arrests Zetas leader Omar Trevino Morales

By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - Mexican police and soldiers arrested the Zetas drug cartel leader Omar Trevino Morales, alias "Z-42," on Wednesday, a federal official said.

The official, who was not authorized to be quoted by name due to government policy, said Trevino Morales was arrested in a pre-dawn raid in San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy suburb of the northern city of Monterrey.

The Mexican government had offered a 30-million peso ($2 million) reward for his capture on weapons and organized crime charges.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had offered a $5 million reward for his capture, saying he was wanted on drug-trafficking charges, but listed "Omar" as an alias and his given name as Alejandro.

The suspect is the brother of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, described as the most bloodthirsty leader of Mexico's most violent cartel.

Miguel Angel was arrested in July 2013, almost a year after marines killed the Zetas' other biggest leader, Heriberto Lazcano "El Lazca."

The Zetas carved a path of brutality, bloodshed and mutilated bodies across northern Mexico during their turf battles with the rival Gulf cartel.

Much of the violence along Mexico's northeast border, however, is now due to internal battles among factions of the Gulf cartel.