Mexican authorities detained Miguel “Tyson” Ortiz Miranda, an ex-agent and current leader for the drug cartel The Michoacan Family (La Familia Michoacana), also known as La Familia (The Family). He is linked to an attack that took place in Zitácuaro, Michoacán which left twelve federal agents dead as well as an ambush that killed four officers earlier this month. He is also accused of having participated in the attacks on Federal Police stations in an attempt to liberate high-ranking lieutenant of the cartel,Arnoldo Rueda Medina.
Ortiz Miranda claimed responsibility for the murder of José Manuel Revuelta of the Secretary of Public Security for the state of Michoacán (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública – SSP) and the ex-director of preliminary investigations for the Attorney General of the state, Josafat Delfino López Tinoco.
Ortiz Miranda had been a part of the State Preventative Police (Policía Estatal Preventiva) for six years until 2005 when he was offered bribes which led to his new career with La Familia Michoacana. He worked as an informant for the cartel until 2008 when he assumed a leadership role and left his position with the State Preventative Police. A fake birth certificate, high-caliber rifle, grenade, laptop, stolen vehicle, and a small amount of cocaine were among things seized during his capture.
Sources:
ABC. “Detenido jefe de La Familia Michoacana vinculado a ataques a politicos.” ABC. 30 June, 2010.
