MEXICAN ARMY CAPTURES JUAREZ CARTEL LEADER'S BROTHER ROBERTO SANCHEZ ARRAS

The brother of the third-highest ranking member of the Juarez drug
cartel has been arrested by the Mexican army even while the bloodshed
continued in Juarez with more than 20 murders since Friday.

Soldiers arrested Roberto Sanchez Arras on federal weapons charges on
Thursday in the town of Villa Ahumada, located about 90 miles south of Juarez.

Roberto Sanchez Arras is the brother of reputed cartel lieutenant
Pedro "El Tigre" Sanchez Arras, who was captured by the army in May
2008, officials with Coordinated Operation Chihuahua said during the
weekend. The cartel is allegedly led by Vicente Carrillo Fuentes.

On Thursday morning, Roberto Sanchez Arras was arrested by a patrol
of the 20th Motorized Calvary Regiment responding to a tip about
armed men riding in a sport utility vehicle with tinted windows,
officials said. Soldiers stopped Roberto Sanchez Arras, who allegedly
had a firearm in his hand, when he tried to enter a house.

In the vehicle, soldiers allegedly found a grenade, three rifles,
four handguns, ammunition, bulletproof vests, military style clothing
and shirts stating "AFI," like the Mexican Federal Investigations Agency.

Villa Ahumada, best known for its asadero cheese, in the past two
years has been a hot spot in the turf war between the Sinaloa and
Juarez drug cartels. The town, located on the Pan-American highway,
is reputed to be an important regional drug trafficking corridor link.

A year ago, the Mexican army and gunmen near the town got into one of
the largest firefights of the drug war, leaving a soldier and 14 gunmen dead.

Despite recent visits by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, the
rampant violence continued in Juarez. Murders did not stop during the
presidential visit and appeared to have picked up again. There were
nine homicides Friday, including the fatal shooting of 52-year-old
state homicide investigator Enrique Castaneda Ogaz. There were 10
slayings on Saturday, including a pair of triple-homicides. There had
been at least three homicides as of early Sunday evening.