Gilberto Barragan Balderas the 41 year old member of a Gulf drug cartel has been arrested by Mexican federal police as his birthday party. Balderas had been indicted in the US since 2008 on drug trafficking charges and was subject of a $5mil US Drug Enforcement Agency reward. Balderas was responsible for obtaining advanced notice of the movement and locations of military and state police patrols and mobile checkpoints, providing protection to shipments of cocaine and marijuana for both the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, before the bitter and deadly split between the two gangs. Balderas' more recent responsibilities since the 2010 split that has resulted in thousands of Mexican turf battle killings, was to defend territory in Tamaulipas against attacks by the rival Los Zetas, as they attempt to expand into other territories. Inspired by Mark Stevenson ow.ly/51wdC image source AP ow.ly/51vXp One of the main leaders of the Gulf Cartel (May 31 2011)

Gilberto Barragan Balderas the 41 year old member of a Gulf drug cartel has been arrested by Mexican federal police as his birthday party. Balderas had been indicted in the US since 2008 on drug trafficking charges and was subject of a $5mil US Drug Enforcement Agency reward. Balderas was responsible for obtaining advanced notice of the movement and locations of military and state police patrols and mobile checkpoints, providing protection to shipments of cocaine and marijuana for both the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, before the bitter and deadly split between the two gangs. Balderas’ more recent responsibilities since the 2010 split that has resulted in thousands of Mexican turf battle killings, was to defend territory in Tamaulipas against attacks by the rival Los Zetas, as they attempt to expand into other territories.

 

Inspired by Mark Stevenson ow.ly/51wdC image source AP ow.ly/51vXp