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Mexico Arrests Violent Gang Leader

VOA News

   Mexican police andarmedforcesarrestedthe leader ofthe violentSanta Rosa
   de Lima gangwho have terrorized thenorth-centralregion of the country.

   Authoritiesin the state of Guanajuatoannouncedthe arrest ofJosé
   AntonioYépezOrtiz,widelyknown by hisSpanishnickname "ElMarro," which
   means "The Sledgehammer."

   The Santa Rosa de Lima gang andthe Jalisco cartelhave been engaged
   inabloody turf battlefor years in theindustrial hub of Guanajuato,home
   tomanyforeign auto plants and parts suppliers, turning it intothe most
   violent state in Mexico.

   2,293peoplehave beenmurderedin the firsthalf of this year alonein
   theGuanajuatostate.

   Some observers say the Santa Rosa gang, which is not a drag cartelbut a
   powerful violent group,is responsibleforkilling 27 men during
   anattackin Julyon a drug rehabilitation center in the city of Irapuato.

   However,Mexico's top civilian security official, AlfonsoDurazo,
   saidElMarrowould be charged with organized crime and fuel theft,butnot
   murder.

   TheSanta Rosade Limagangis accused ofstealing fuel from government
   pipelines and refineries and robbing freight from trainsin
   north-central Guanajuato state.

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