MEXICO CITY — Mexico has arrested the wife of Nemesio Oseguera, one of the country’s most wanted drug lords, officials said Sunday.

Known as “El Mencho,” Oseguera is blamed for rising heroin shipments to the United States and waves of bloody executions.

Rosalinda Garcia was detained in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the western state of Jalisco, three security officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

They declined to provide further details on the arrest of the wife of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel chief, who became Mexico’s most wanted drug lord after Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was extradited to the United States last year to face trial.

The reasons for Garcia’s arrest were not immediately clear, but security officials called a media conference Sunday.

In March, US agents in Chicago named him the new public enemy No. 1 and blamed his gang for using “extreme violence” to expand their share of the heroin trade.

The Jalisco gang has challenged Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel and other gangs in territories across Mexico over drug trafficking routes to the United States, fueling part of a surge in murder rates to the highest on records going back 20 years.</s>Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of the leader of Jalisco New Generation, one of the country's fiercest drug cartels.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said at a Sunday press conference that marines arrested Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia the night before in the western city of Zapopan.

She's the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho."

Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances, a role previously held by her brother Abigael, who was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2015.</s>The wife of one of Mexico’s most wanted drug lords has been arrested, Mexican government officials said.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia was detained in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the Western state of Jalisco Saturday, according to Sky News and other news outlets.

Garcia's husband Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, heads the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, which along with the Sinaloa Cartel, is blamed for most of the U.S.'s illicit heroin market, Sky News reported.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Chicago said in March that Oseguera was their "top target" following the arrest and extradition of drug cartel leaer Joaquin Guzman, known as "El Chapo."

“Through extreme violence, corruption,and extortion, (the Jalisco Cartel) has increased its presence in Mexico, engaging in turf battles throughout the country and steadily expanding their territory and control,” the State Department said.

Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances, a role previously held by her brother Abigael, who was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2015.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete declined to speculate Sunday on whether government agents were close to detaining the cartel leader. But he said he hopes to soon have news.

"I once heard that they arrived at a place and that he had just left because the coffee was still steaming," Navarrete said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of a powerful drug cartel leader in the city of Guadalajara, the interior minister said on Sunday.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” was taken into custody by Mexican navy agents, the minister said.

“This woman is a likely administrator of both economic and legal assets of this criminal organization. She had been sought on an organized crime warrant,” Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told a news conference.

Gonzalez was put into preventive detention and has been brought before a judge, Navarrete said.

Security forces, civil defense and emergency medical services were put on alert in case of retaliatory attacks by the cartel, sources in the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office said.

Troops were deployed to guard approaches to the city, Mexico’s second largest.

On Monday, Guadalajara was shaken by the attempted assassination of Jalisco Labor Secretary Luis Najera, a former state prosecutor who was attacked by armed men in a restaurant in the city center.

Assailants torched a passenger bus after the attack, killing an eight-month-old baby.

Najera suffered only minor injuries but seven other people were more seriously wounded. One of the attackers was killed.

The Mexican government estimates that the Jalisco New Generation cartel has amassed a $50 billion fortune. It has a strong presence in nine Mexican states and connections with criminal organizations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

In recent years, it has carried out attacks against military and police targets, including the 2015 downing of a military helicopter in which 20 soldiers and a policewoman were killed.

In December of that year, authorities said police and soldiers arrested Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho’s brother, months after arresting Nemesio Oseguera’s son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, known as “El Menchito.”</s>Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of the leader of Jalisco New Generation, one of the country's fiercest drug cartels.Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said at a Sunday press conference that marines arrested Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia the night before in the western city of Zapopan.She's the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho."Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances, a role previously held by her brother Abigael, who was arrested by Mexican authorities in 2015.In March, ABC7's Chuck Goudie and the I-Team spoke exclusively with Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian McKnight , who unofficially branded "El Mencho" as Chicago's public enemy number 1.McKnight says that Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," has taken over a sizable chunk of Chicago's illicit drug trade.El Mencho is a ruthless, billionaire killer who sits atop the CJNG cartel, known as "New Generation," according to McKnight. That Mexico cartel, that splintered from El Chapo's Sinaloa group, has established drug trafficking routes across six continents and has now established a stronghold in Chicago, DEA investigators say.</s>The wife of one of Mexico's most feared drug lords has been arrested.

The wife of one of Mexico's most feared drug lords has been arrested.

Wife of one of the world's most feared drug lords arrested

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said that marines took into custody Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, the leader of Jalisco New Generation.

She was detained in the city of Zapopan, setting the western state of Jalisco on high-alert for possible reprisals. Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances. At the same location, the marines also captured Gerardo Botello Rosales, known as El Cachas, who is believed to run the cartel's operations in the states of Guanajuato and Michoacan.

Botello is accused of murder, kidnapping and extortion. He has an outstanding order for extradition from the state of Oregon for a 2002 homicide, Mr Navarrete said. Saturday's arrests are part of the "siege" on El Mencho, said Alejandro Hope, a Mexican security expert. "They have been hunting him with greater intensity since the end of last year."

Mr Navarrete declined to speculate on whether government agents were close to detaining the cartel leader. "I once heard that they arrived at a place and that he had just left because the coffee was still steaming," said Mr Navarrete.

Jalisco New Generation has a reputation for battling with government agents. Mr Navarrete said he anticipates a "violent reaction" from the cartel, adding that government officials have taken precautions to prevent or respond to possible attacks. The cartel brazenly shot down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket launcher in 2015, prompting Mexican officials to declare an all-out offensive against the criminal group.

Jalisco New Generation is believed to primarily traffic methamphetamine while also selling cocaine, heroin and marijuana. The US Drug Enforcement Agency said in its October 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment report that the organisation has distribution hubs for illicit substances in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta.</s>Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of the leader of Jalisco New Generation, one of the country's fiercest drug cartels, as well as a top lieutenant for the organization, setting the western state of Jalisco on high-alert for possible reprisals.

Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said at a Sunday press conference that marines took into custody Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the night before in the city of Zapopan. Gonzalez is accused of managing the cartel's finances.

At the same location, the marines also captured Gerardo Botello Rosales, aka "El Cachas," who is believed to run the cartel's operations in the states of Guanajuato and Michoacan. Botello is accused of homicide, kidnapping and extortion. He has an outstanding order for extradition from the state of Oregon for a 2002 homicide, Navarrete said.

Saturday's arrests are part of the "siege" on El Mencho, said Alejandro Hope, a Mexican security expert. "They have been hunting him with greater intensity since the end of last year."

Navarrete declined to speculate on whether government agents were close to detaining the cartel leader. But he said he hopes to soon have news.

"I once heard that they arrived at a place and that he had just left because the coffee was still steaming," said Navarrete.

Jalisco New Generation has a reputation for battling with government agents. Navarrete said he anticipates a "violent reaction" from the cartel, adding that government officials have taken precautions to prevent or respond to possible aggressions.

The cartel brazenly shot down a Mexican military helicopter with a rocket launcher in 2015, prompting Mexican officials to declare an all-out offensive against the criminal group. Tensions spiked again this past February, after the cartel allegedly abducted and murdered two federal agents in the Pacific state of Nayarit.

Jalisco state Gov. Aristoteles Sandoval said earlier Sunday that the state is "calm" amid stepped-up security.

Jalisco New Generation is believed to primarily traffic methamphetamine while also selling cocaine, heroin and marijuana. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said in its October 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment report that the organization has distribution hubs for illicit substances in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta.</s>Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of the leader of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels, Jalisco New Generation, in the city of Guadalajara, local media reported.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," was taken into custody without incident Saturday night by Mexican navy agents in an affluent residential neighborhood, the newspaper Reforma said.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the arrest although the Interior Ministry called a news conference for Sunday that was expected to provide details on the development.

Officials cited by Reforma said Gonzalez, who was flown by helicopter to Mexico City after her arrest, managed the cartel's finances.

Sources in the Jalisco state prosecutor's office said security forces, civil defense and emergency medical services were put on alert in case of attacks by the cartel.

Mexican troops were deployed to guard approaches to the city, Mexico's second largest.

On Monday, Guadalajara was shaken by the attempted assassination of Jalisco Labor Secretary Luis Najera, a former state prosecutor who was attacked by armed men in a restaurant in central Guadalajara.

Assailants torched a passenger bus after the attack, killing an eight-month-old baby.

Najera suffered only minor injuries in the attack, but seven other people were more seriously wounded. One of the attackers was killed.

The Mexican government estimates that the Jalisco New Generation cartel has amassed a $50 billion fortune. It has a strong presence in nine Mexican states and connections with criminal organizations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

In recent years, it has carried out attacks against military and police targets, including the 2015 downing of a military helicopter in which 20 soldiers and a policewoman were killed.</s>GUADALAJARA, Mexico: Mexican authorities have arrested the wife of the leader of one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels, Jalisco New Generation, in the city of Guadalajara, local media reported.

Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the wife of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," was taken into custody without incident on Saturday night by Mexican navy agents in an affluent residential neighborhood, the newspaper Reforma said.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the arrest although the Interior Ministry called a news conference for Sunday that was expected to provide details on the development. Officials cited by Reforma said Gonzalez, who was flown by helicopter to Mexico City after her arrest, managed the cartel’s finances. Sources in the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office said security forces, civil defense and emergency medical services were put on alert in case of attacks by the cartel.

Mexican troops were deployed to guard approaches to the city, Mexico’s second largest. On Monday, Guadalajara was shaken by the attempted assassination of Jalisco Labour Secretary Luis Najera, a former state prosecutor who was attacked by armed men in a restaurant in central Guadalajara.

Assailants torched a passenger bus after the attack, killing an eight-month-old baby. Najera suffered only minor injuries in the attack, but seven other people were more seriously wounded. One of the attackers was killed.</s>The wife of one of Mexico's most wanted drug lords has been arrested.

Rosalinda Garcia was detained in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the Western state of Jalisc. The reason for her arrest is currently unclear.

Garcia is married to Nemesio Oseguera, the leader of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) who is also known as El Mencho.

Oseguera and his cartel have been blamed for rising heroin shipments to the US and waves of bloody executions.

Officials have claimed that the CJNG and Sinaloa Cartel supply most of the illicit heroin market in the US, according to Sky News.

The cartels have been fighting for control of the American market since El Chapo, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in 2016 after escaping twice from prison.

In March, Oseguera was named the 'top target' by the US Drug Enforcement Administration after El Chapo was extradited to the US to face trial.

It claimed Oseguera has used 'extreme violence, corruption, and extortion' to expand his cartel's share of the heroin trade.

The US State Department said Oseguera turned his regional organization into an 'international organized crime power involved with the production and distribution of narcotics throughout the world'.

It is offering a reward of up to $5million for information that could lead to his arrest or conviction.
Mexican authorities arrest Rosalinda Garcia, the wife of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, one of the country's most wanted drug lords.