Mexican cops bust 11 from notorious cartel

MEXICO CITY -- Eleven alleged hit men for the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel were captured yesterday at two Mexico City mansions stocked with grenades, automatic weapons and body armour.

It happened a day after Mexican authorities reported nabbing one of the cartel's leaders. Police said it was the first time they have found a safe house linked to the cartel in the capital city.

WEAPONS SEIZED

Eleven people were captured during two pre-dawn raids in southern Mexico City. Eight men were arrested in one of the raids and three in the other.

The alleged hit men were lined up in the mansions' spacious living rooms and presented to reporters alongside a cache of seized weapons, including fragmentation grenades and machine guns.

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Mexico captures 11 alleged hit men from powerful Sinaloa drug cartel

By E. Eduardo Castillo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1:01 p.m. January 22, 2008

MEXICO CITY – Eleven alleged hit men for a powerful drug cartel were captured Tuesday at two Mexico City mansions stocked with grenades and automatic weapons – a day after Mexican authorities reported nabbing one of the cartel's reputed leaders.

Police said it was the first time they have found a safe house linked to the cartel in the capital city.

“Yes, the cartel is operating here in Mexico City,” said Edgar Millan, top commander of Mexico's national federal police, at a news conference following pre-dawn raids on two houses in southern Mexico City. Eight men were arrested in one raid and three in the other.

Millan said the men, whose identities were not released, were part of three cartel “commando” groups that may have been preparing attacks in response to a federal crackdown on drug trafficking.