Rafael Valdez Aviñaga, alias La Pantera, one of the principal leaders of the Beltrán Leyva cartel in San Pedro, linked to the crime group “Grupo Duro,” was captured this past Friday by marine forces in Monterrey. He was detained along with two other individuals in possession of firearms and ammunition during an operation carried out by Mexican Navy forces (Secretaría de Marina-Armada). At the time of detention all three of them were traveling on board a pick up on José Vasconcelos Avenue at the Matamoros cross-section. According to the online news source Milenio, Valdez Aviñaga has not only been linked to organized crime but also to sixty elements of the Secretariat of Municipal Security (Secretaría de Seguridad Municipal) and the mayor of San Pedro.
Sources:
Milenio. “Asestan otro golpe al grupo rudo de SP.”Milenio. 12 Julio, 2010.
Gandaria, Manrique. “Encierran a “La Pantera.” El Sol de México. 12 Julio, 2010.
El Porvenir. “Cae “La Pantera” del grupo “Rudo.” El Porvenir. 12 Julio, 2010.
