Mexican police arrest 44 in baptism raid on drugs cartel

Mexican SWAT police descended on a baptism party of one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, Familia Michoacana. The Michoacana drug cartel is said to have over 9000 armed members is responsible for trafficking cocaine from Central America, ephedrine and pseudoephidrine from Europe. Back in December, Mexican police had arrested the head of the Michoacana drug cartel,Alberto Espinoza Barrón aka the Strawberry. Times Online

Cited by the US as major players in the international drugs trade the 'Familia Michoacana' had its christening gate-crashed by 400 police officers and two Blackhawk helicopters.

Mexican federal police arrested 44 alleged members of the drugs cartel at a family baptism in Morelia, capital of the western state of Michoacan.

Among those detained was Rafael Cedeño Hernández, the gang’s second in command, who is said to be responsible for the shipment of drugs from Central America and expanding its empire in the state of Guerrero. [...]

Other important figures from the Familia arrested in the baptism raid included Francisco Javier Torres Mora, Jose Cleofas Miramontes, alias The Joker, Francisco Hernandez Hernandez and Fred Pardo Menera.

Rodrigo Esparza, Public Safety Secretariat Special Forces commander, said the gang controls the movement of cocaine from Central America and shipments of ephedrine and pseudoephidrine which arrive in Mexico from Asia and Europe.