Drug War

Mexico Arrests Another Kingpin

“El Grande” was major leader of Beltran Leyva cartel.

Mexican marines have arrested Sergio “El Grande” Villarreal, one of the last important leaders of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel, in a huge victory in the country’s violent drug war. The arrest comes just two weeks after Mexico hauled in Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka “la Barbie.” Thirty marines, a helicopter, and five vehicles were used in the raid that captured El Grande, who did not resist. He’s the fourth cartel leader to be taken out this year, following Arturo Beltran Leyva (whose death sparked a huge uptick in violence as smugglers competed for control of his gang), Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel (the No. 3 in the Sinaloa cartel), and Valdez. Even so, drug violence hasn’t slowed: hitmen murdered 25 people in Cuidad Juarez last week, the bloodiest in three years.