MEXICO CITY – Mexican marines captured 30 suspected Gulf cartel members and seized an arsenal of weapons during two days of raids in a northern border state torn by gang battles, officials said Wednesday.
The marines, acting on intelligence obtained by the navy and other agencies, conducted the raids in Matamoros and Reynosa, two cities across the border from Texas in the state of Tamaulipas, Rear Adm. Jose Luis Vergara said.
The troops seized more than 50 guns, two shoulder-fired rocket launchers, 21 grenades and ammunition.
The 30 suspects, including one woman, were paraded before reporters at an air base in Mexico City, handcuffed and flanked by masked marines in black-and-white combat gear. They were lined up in front of a helicopter, the arsenal of weapons laid out in front of them.
Despite the display, the navy gave no indication of how significant the arrests were in the government’s efforts to destroy the Gulf cartel, which is waging a bloody turf war in Tamaulipas with its former ally, the Zetas gang of hit men.
Vergara said all 30 are believed to belong to the Gulf cartel.
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