Michoacan Mayor's Arrest Signals Ongoing Threat of the Knights Templar Marguerite Cawley - InSight Crime
go to original April 30, 2014

Authorities in Mexico have arrested the mayor of Michoacan's principal port city for alleged Knights Templar ties, in an illustration of how embedded this criminal group is in the southwest Pacific state, and how hard it may be to eradicate their influence.

Arquimedes Oseguera, the mayor of Lazaro Cardenas, was detained on charges of kidnapping, extortion and drug ties. He has been accused of maintaining relations with Servando Gomez, alias "La Tuta," the leader of the Knights Templar, reported Milenio.

According to security commissioner Alfredo Castillo, Oseguera's arrest came as a result of investigations carried out by the Attorney General's Office.

City treasurer Omar Alejandro Soto was also arrested for allegedly abetting the mayor, reported Animal Politico.

Oseguera is the second Michoacan mayor to be arrested in April, after the mayor of the town of Apatzingan was also recently detained for alleged organized crime ties and extortion.

His arrest occurs as authorities move to disarm the state's vigilantes. The campaign began April 28 in three of the 27 municipalities where these groups operate, and 800 arms were registered on the first day, according to Milenio.

Read the rest at Insight Crime

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