Monday, August 30, 2010

La Barbie, Beltran-Leyva Cartel Kingpin Captured By Mexican Federal Police In The State of Mexico

Édgar Valdez Villareal, aka, "La Barbie" operated a split faction of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel

Photos: SSP

By H. Nelson Goodson
August 30, 2010

Mexico City, Mexico - On Monday, federal police captured Édgar Valdez Villareal, 37, aka, "La Barbie" in La Cañada de Alférez near Salazar in the municipality of Lerma in the state of Mexico, according to the federal Secretary of Public Security (SSP). Villareal has been wanted by the Mexican government and an intelligence operative was initiated in June 2009 for his capture.
Villareal is originally from Laredo, Texas and worked for the Sinaloa Cartel before factions split from the Beltrán Leyva's. When Arturo Beltrán Leyva began an alliance with the Zetas, the Sinaloa Cartel separated from the Beltrán Leyva's. Villareal tried to take control of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel after Arturo was killed and began a war against one of the surviving Beltrán Leyva brothers who also wanted control. Villareal kept connections with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The following suspects were also taken into custody with Villareal, they were identified as Marisela Reyes Lozada, 40, from Mexico D.F.; Maritzel López Reyes, 18, from Mexico D.F.; Mauricio López Reyes, 25, from Mexico D.F.; Arturo Iván Arroyo Salas, 26, from Mexico D.F.; Juan Antonio López Reyes, 26, from Mexico D.F. and Jorge Valentín Landa Coronado, 28, from Laredo, Texas.
Villareal operated in Morelos, state of Mexico, Mexico D.F., Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Quintana Roo. His drug operation manufactured, smuggled and distributed over one ton of cocaine per month, according to federal police.
Villareal told authorities, the day Arturo Betrán Leyva was killed, Arturo had called him and asked for backup to help repell the Mexican Marines that had surrounded his hideout in Cuernavaca. Arturo wanted Villareal to send reinforcements to try and get him out. Villareal said, he told Arturo to turn himself in, but Arturo fired at Marines and was killed in return fire.
Villareal is wanted by he U.S. government and an indictment issued by the U.S. Court in Atlanta alleges he distributed thousands of pounds of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. from 2004 to 2006. A federal wiretap connected Villareal as the key leader who managed a multi-million drug trafficking operation between the two countries.
A U.S. $2 million reward for Villareal had been offered and the U.S. government is expected to seek extradition.
In 2003, the U.S. Attorney in the District of Lousiana charged Villareal with conspiracy to distribute large quantities of marijuana. The Drug and Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation led to Villreal's charges, according to Steve Robertson, DEA agent in Washington D.C.
Villareal was wanted in Mexico for drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion and in connection with ordering homicides of federal, state and local police.
He is accused of escalating the drug war in Nuevo Laredo  between the Beltrán Leyva and Sinaloa Cartels against the Zetas for control of the U.S. Interstate 35 route. A multi-billion drug transporting, smuggling and distribution operation in the Mexican bordertown connecting to Laredo, Texas.
President Felipe Calderón praised the federal police for Villareal's arrest.

Mexican Federal Police posed with Édgar Valdez Villareal, aka, "La Barbie" at a media conference in Mexico City.

Spanish news cast Internet link on La Barbie's arrest at: Noticia de La Barbie

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