Shootout in Mexico's Sinaloa state kills 19, local cartel leader arrested

MEXICO CITY — 

A shootout adjacent the superior of Mexico's Sinaloa authorities killed 19 suspected pack members, portion 1 section cartel person was arrested, Mexico's defence ministry said connected Tuesday, arsenic intra-cartel unit intensifies.

The deadly altercation connected Monday took spot astir 11 kilometers extracurricular the Sinaloa superior of Culiacan, erstwhile a radical of much than 30 gunmen fired connected soldiers, according to a connection from the ministry. It added that immoderate of the suspected cartel gunmen fled the country aft national agents returned fire.

The detainee was identified arsenic Edwin Antonio "N" - his past sanction withheld arsenic is emblematic for those accused of crimes successful Mexico - and described arsenic a section person of the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by its legendary co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

A papers dated October 22 from Mexico's nationalist registry of detained persons obtained by Reuters listed an Edwin Antonio Rubio Lopez apprehended by subject unit successful Sinaloa.

Seven vehicles and astir 30 firearms, including instrumentality guns, ammunition and military-style vests and helmets were besides seized.

Violence has flared successful the occidental Pacific seashore authorities ever since the precocious July apprehension of Zambada, aft helium was flown to an airstrip successful the United States adjacent the metropolis of El Paso, Texas, and promptly taken into custody by U.S. officials.

The seasoned cartel person is believed to beryllium successful his 70s. He has alleged that a elder subordinate of the Los Chapitos, different faction of the Sinaloa cartel, kidnapped him and past flew him to the United States against his will.

The gangland unit plaguing Sinaloa is seen by information analysts arsenic apt pitting the 2 factions against each other, and has intensified since aboriginal September with astir 200 dormant and much than 300 others believed to beryllium missing, according to authoritative data.