Leader of 'The Knights Templar' Arrested in Michoacán: Report

Mexican Federal forces arrested Joaquín Negrete Arriaga, a leader of the criminal group known as "The Knights Templar", a few hours before the Mexican Army took control of the region known as Tierra Caliente in the state of Michoacán.

According to Mexican newspaper Excélsior, the arrest of Joaquín Negrete took place in Los Reyes, on Tuesday, January 14.

Related News: Tensions Grow in Michoacán Following Clashes Between Self-Defense Groups and the Mexican Army [Video] (Spanish)

Authorities had not revealed the name of the criminal leader at first something that caused great expectation in the region due to recent clashes between self-defense groups who demand the apprehension of the criminal group and Mexican Army units. Howeer, it was finally revealed that Negrete and not "La Tuta", the head of The Knights' Templar, had been arrested.

The Executive Secretary of the National Public Safety System of Mexico, Alejandro Rubido, confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday that federal forces captured Joaquín Negrete, aka "Allegretti", in the municipality of Los Reyes.

Jorge Fabián Quezada Andrade, alleged member of The Knights Templar, was also captured in Tierra Caliente when he drove in a reportedly stolen car reported. When he was arrested, Andrade was carrying a pistol, two AR-15 assault rifle magazines and 20 shotgun shells, detailed CNN.

Conflict in Tierra Caliente

The arrests of members of the drug cartel comes after the Mexican government said it would take control of the security in the Michoacán region known as Tierra Caliente.

According to the BBC, the Mexican Army started a disarming operation of the communal patrols known as "autodefensas", groups of people that rose up in arms in Michoacán to fight organized crime, particularly The Knights Templar.

Clashes between autodefensas and the Mexican Army have left two civilians dead so far, the deaths of which have been acknowledged by Mexican authorities according to The Washington Post.