Top lieutenant in Beltrán Leyva cartel arrested

Rodolfo López Ibarra, known as 'El Nito Amavizca', one of the top lieutenants in the Beltrán Leyva cartel was arrested in the northern state of Sonora on December 27.

Local authorities reported that López Ibarra was arrested aboard an armored vehicle, in possession of a .38 caliber firearm and more than 22,000 dollars in cash.

According to initial reports, López Ibarra tried to bribe the officers who arrested him by offering US$500,000 in cash for his release.

"El Nito Amavizca" is the subject of an arrest warrant for extradition to the United States.

The detainee confessed to be the cell leader of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel in Chiapas, Michoacán, Mexico City, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora, Baja California and Guerrero.

López Ibarra was arrested in 2009 in Nuevo León state, and also in 2015 in Hermosillo, Sonora both times for possession of firearms for the exclusive use of the army.