Security forces have this year arrested over 27,000 suspected drug gang members, as part of Mexico\'s ongoing bloody military-led crackdown on cartel operations, officials said.
Among the top captures for Mexican authorities were the arrests of drug kingpin Edgar Valdez, known as "the Barbie," as well as the killings of Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, a top leader of Mexico\'s Sinaloa drug gang, and Gulf cartel leader Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, known as "Tony Tormenta," officials said.
In total, some 17,200 gang members have been arrested in 2010, according to a joint statement issued by the secretaries of defense, interior and federal prosecutors.
No details were given on how many convictions were brought post-arrest.
More than 12,000 murders were committed in 2010 as part of Mexico\'s vicious four-year drug gang war, with 30,000 deaths in all since President Felipe Calderon launched a massive military crackdown on the cartels, according to figures released earlier this month.
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