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Mexico Captures Cartel Chief; Finds 23 Bodies


Masked members of the Purepecha Indian community guard unit, from the town of Los Reyes in Michoacan, Mexico, July 29, 2013.
Masked members of the Purepecha Indian community guard unit, from the town of Los Reyes in Michoacan, Mexico, July 29, 2013.
Mexican authorities have captured a key leader of the Gulf Cartel drug smuggling organization who has been wanted in the United States since 2008.
Mario Ramirez Trevino was arrested Saturday near the border with Texas.
The U.S. State Department had offered a $5 million reward for Ramirez Trevino.
Also Saturday, at least 23 bodies have been found in western Mexico where local vigilante groups are battling drug cartels for control.
Mexican law enforcement officials said nine men, their hands bound and shot, were found Saturday in Michoacan state where local residents have been fighting the Knights Templar drug cartel.
In neighboring Guerrero state, another 14 bodies were found.
None of the victims has been identified and no one has claimed responsibility for the violence.
The government of President Enrique Pena Nieto has deployed thousands of troops in the troubled area in an effort to curb the drug-related violence.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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