MAN ARRESTED IN MEXICO CALLED MAJOR COCAINE FIGURE

Authorities Say Suspect Shipped Cocaine to U.S.

MEXICO CITY - Police and army officers captured a cocaine trafficker
responsible for major drug shipments from Guatemala to the United States,
authorities announced yesterday.

Jesus Albino Quintero Meraz was captured early Sunday in the gulf coast
state of Veracruz, Defense Secretary Gerardo Vega and Attorney General
Rafael Macedo de la Concha said at a news conference.

"He was and is a major figure in the world of cocaine trafficking," Vega
said, adding that Quintero is a drug leader "on the level of El Chapo
Guzman," alleged leader of the powerful Sinaloa drug organization, and
Benjamin Arellano Felix, leader of the powerful Tijuana drug organization.

Guzman, 43, escaped from a maximum-security prison in January 2001,
allegedly with the help of prison personnel. He remains at large.

Arellano Felix was arrested in March and is being held in a
maximum-security prison.

Quintero faced arrest warrants on charges of drug smuggling and organized
crime. Six others were arrested with him, including a federal police agent.

Quintero's capture marks the latest in blows that army and police have
struck against drug trafficking under the administration of President
Vicente Fox.

The biggest capture was that of Arellano Felix, leader of what was
considered the most powerful and violent of Mexico's drug organizations.
His brother, Ramon Arellano Felix, was killed by police in February.