MEXICO OFFICIALS ARREST CARTEL LEADER

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A man described as a leader of one of Mexico's biggest
drug organizations has been arrested, authorities announced Saturday.

Juan Jose Quintero Payan, believed to be a member of the Juarez Cartel, was
arrested Friday in Zapopan in the western state of Jalisco, said Mariano
Herran Salvatti, Mexico's top anti-drug prosecutor.

Quintero Payan, 57, was alone with a mistress at the time of his arrest,
Herran said at a news conference. He was unarmed and no shots were fired.

Herran said Quintero Payan was a leader of the cartel's cell in Jalisco and
the neighboring state of Sinaloa, a major drug trafficking state. He said
Quintero Payan had an important role in transporting cocaine from Colombia
to the United States, Herran said.

Herran said Quintero Payan had been a mentor of Jose Esparragoza, a
powerful lieutenant of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, the late cartel leader.