ARREST TARGETS DRUG CARTEL

Mexico Police Detain Brother of Slain 'Boss of Bosses'

MEXICO CITY -- The brother of one of the country's most powerful and
violent drug lords -- killed last month in a gun battle -- was
arraigned Sunday after being stopped while driving with a false
driver's license, in another blow to one of the country's most
powerful drug cartels, and setting the stage for what could be a
bruising battle for control of the organized-crime group. The
government said Carlos Beltran Leyva was arrested Wednesday in the
northern state of Sinaloa after he was stopped while driving with a
forged license, and a search found weapons and cocaine.

Mr. Beltran Leyva, 40 years old, is the younger brother of Arturo
Beltran Leyva, known as the "Boss of Bosses," one of Mexico's most
powerful drug lords who was killed two weeks ago by an elite navy
force in a shootout that turned a luxury condominium complex in the
resort city of Cuernavaca into a battleground. For the past two
years, the Beltran Leyva group has been engaged in a war with rival
drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman for lucrative drug routes that
has killed thousands of people across Mexico. But Mr. Beltran Leyva
didn't appear to be a major player in the organization. Mexico has
been on edge since Navy special forces killed Arturo Beltran Leyva
and four bodyguards who threw dozens of fragmentation grenades in a
four-hour battle on Dec. 16. Five days later, just hours after the
funeral of a Navy special-forces member who was killed in the
operation, cartel gunmen massacred his mother, brother, sister and
aunt. Little is known about Carlos Beltran Leyva's role in the
organization. He wasn't on the list of the country's 37 top drug
traffickers for which the government posted rewards of as much as $2
million last year. Since his capture, the government hasn't
elaborated on Mr. Beltran Leyva's role, if any, in running the cartel.

The fact that he wasn't accompanied by any bodyguards when he was
captured may also indicate he wasn't as important a catch. Since
Arturo Beltran Leyva's death, many Mexican analysts have been
expecting a succession battle to break out. But Carlos Beltran Leyva
hasn't been mentioned by analysts as a possible successor to his brother.

Indeed, Mexican intelligence documents detailing the cartel's
organization barely mention Mr. Beltran Leyva.

But analysts do mention Hector Beltran Leyva, known as "The Engineer"
or "H," as a potential head of the enterprise. The U.S. has offered a
$5 million reward for Hector Beltran Leyva's capture.

It blames Hector Beltran Leyva, who has two indictments in the U.S.,
for smuggling and distributing "multiton" quantities of cocaine,
methamphetamines and marijuana.

Last year, the Mexican government offered $2 million for information
leading to his capture. Hector Beltran Leyva might have a difficult
time taking control.

Analysts believe he could face a battle from two top lieutenants.
They say the top contender could be Edgar Valdez, 37, the U.S.- born
enforcer of the cartel, who is known as "La Barbie" due to his blond
hair and fair skin. Mexican intelligence documents say Mr. Valdez
headed a band of killers known as "Los Negros" ("The Blacks") who
tried to take over the Nuevo Laredo trafficking route to the U.S. in
a bloody and ultimately unsuccessful battle in 2004 with the rival Gulf Cartel.

A large printed message left in Cuernavaca shortly after Arturo
Beltran Leyva was killed announced the support of a local drug
trafficker for Mr. Valdez. "Barbie, count on my support to start a
war in Morelos [state] since I have sufficient people under my
command to start a war, and let it be clear that the mafia will never
be finished," the sign said.

Analysts say Sergio Villareal, 40, known as El Grande and King Kong,
is the other leading candidate to take over the Beltran Leyva group.

Mr. Villareal began his career as a policeman in the northern state
of Coahuila and then was stationed as a federal police agent in the
border city of Nuevo Laredo, according to Mexican intelligence documents.

He is now believed to control drug trafficking in much of Durango and
Coahuila states. As the Beltran Leyva group suffers setback after
setback, it appears clear that Mr. Guzman, Mexico's most powerful
drug lord, continues to gain strength. If Mr. Guzman moves to take
control over the Beltran Leyva group, it could mean a further spike
in Mexico's drug violence.

Last year was the bloodiest on record for Mexico since President
Felipe Calderon dispatched soldiers after his 2006 inauguration to
take back territory controlled by warring drug organizations.