Mexican Officials Capture and Arrest Suspected Drug Kingpin

On Wednesday, shortly before U.S. and Mexican officials were scheduled to meet to discuss a cooperative approach to ending drug violence in Mexico, the heir to one of the most audacious narcotics empires was arrested in a park as he exercised. Vicente Carrillo Leyva, who is 32 years old, allegedly took over a top position in the Juarez cartel from Amado Carrillo Fuentes, his father. The elder cartel leader was often referred to as "Lord of the Skies" because of his penchant for sending jets loaded with cocaine into the U.S.

Mexican officials have noted that Carrillo Leyva is second in the Juarez cartel to only his uncle, Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, and that the Juarez cartel’s battles with smaller, upstart factions in the country have led to the recent well-documented drug violence in the country. The arrest comes just one week after the government of Mexico offered a reward of over $2 million for the capture of Carrillo Leyva and other cartel suspects. After capturing the young kingpin, Mexican police dragged his before new cameras, where his design glasses and Abercrombie and Fitch track suit made him appear like more of a yuppie jogger than a drug lord.

Carrillo Leyva, who was detained while jogging in a park near a high-end neighborhood in Mexico City, was using the alias "Alejandro Peralta Alvarez," and masquerading as a legitimate businessman according to Federal Police Commissioner Rodrigo Esparza. Officials eventually were able to get a clue as to his whereabouts after tracking Carrillo Leyva’s wife, who did not change her name.