Federales Arrest “El Gato” – Organized Crime Leader

(Acapulco, JG 2 February) Miguel Gómez Vázquez is known as “El Gato.” He is the presumptive boss of the “Independent Cartel of Acapulco” or “CIDA” by its acronym in Spanish. It is an organized crime group based in Acapulco and formed after crime boss Edgar Valdéz Villareal – “La Barbie” – was arrested last summer, causing his organization to break into factions. The CIDA is widely believed to be the author of some of the most horrific gangland violence that has plagued Acapulco over the last six months. Yesterday the Federal Police arrested “El Gato” and placed him at the disposal of the federal attorney general. He is the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping and murder of 20 Michoacan men on September 30, and the murder and beheading of 15 others in the working class suburb of Coloso. Both episodes were related to gang warfare over control of the local drug domain.
“El Gato” is 37 years old and comes from Naucalpan in the State of Mexico. He was arrested in an outlying suburb of Acapulco called Colonia Simón Bolívar. When arrested, he was in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition, 18 packets of marihuana, and 40 packets of cocaine in powder and solid form.