Morelos state police have arrested the son of the leader of Los Rojos, a crime gang that has long been active in Guerrero and more recently Morelos.

Alexis Oswaldo Mazari, 21, was riding on a motorcycle with an accomplice in Jojutla when one of them fired a gun. That drew the attention of police and a short chase ensued in the streets of Los Pilares.

But Mazari and his companion were soon subdued and arrested despite the former’s attempt to threaten officers with his gun.

The two were carrying two handguns, 20 small packages containing marijuana and a larger packet containing methamphetamine.

In his deposition, Mazari stated that he hadn’t been in physical contact with his father, Santiago “El Carrete” Mazari Miranda, for two years and that due to financial problems he had resorted to selling drugs and guns.

Authorities are unaware whether Mazari belongs to his father’s criminal organization, dedicated to smuggling and selling illicit drugs, kidnapping and extortion.

State Security Commissioner Alberto Capella Ibarra told a press conference that the information provided by Mazari confirms intelligence reports gathered by federal and state security forces that indicate Mazari Sr. has fled Morelos due to pressure by security forces.

He is believed to be in the mountains of Oaxaca.

Capella said Mazari’s criminal activities have been “virtually eliminated” in Morelos but other criminal organizations have moved in to fill the vacuum, triggering a spike in violence in some regions of the state.

A 3-million-peso (US $157,000) reward was posted for Mazari in 2016.

His gang has generated much of the violence in Guerrero through its longstanding turf war with Los Ardillos. Mazari is also suspected of links to the disappearance of 43 college students in Iguala, Guerrero, in 2014.

Source: Milenio (sp)