By Brandon Cottrell
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Over the weekend Mexican authorities arrested Eduardo Villatoro Cano.  Cano, who is one of Guatemala’s most wanted men, was wanted for his participation in the murder of eight Guatemalan police officers this past June.

Authorities identified Cano, who was using a false name while hiding in southern Mexico, by photos and fingerprints.  Cano’s cousin, who is also wanted in Guatemala, was also arrested.  Along with their arrests, authorities confiscated thirty-three handguns, twelve rifles, seventy-five vehicles, and cash.

The murder took place at what investigators describe as a remote police station near the Pan-American Highway.  The Pan-American Highway is routinely used by the drug lords to transport drugs from Columbia to Mexico and from Mexico into the United States.

On the night of the murder, heavily armed men in ski masks entered into the police station where nine officers were on night duty.  According to investigators, the men shot the officers at least forty times.  Eight of the officers were killed instantly, but the gang took the ninth officer, the commander of the station, with them.  Investigators presumed that the commander was dead and believe that they have found his partial remains.

Many believe that the shooting was in retaliation for a recent surge in drug seizures by Guatemalan authorities.  However, the shooting will not reduce drug seizures in the future, as authorities say they will continue to take down assailants.

The murder has had a large impact on Guatemala, which has one of the world’s highest homicide rates.  The Guatemalan authorities have vowed to punish the perpetrators and launched “Operation Dignity”.  As a result of the operation and with the arrest of Cano, who was the mastermind of the shooting, thirty-six people have been arrested for their involvement in the shooting.

Additionally, authorities believe that with Cano’s arrest they have now largely broken down one of the larger drug-trafficking groups in Guatemala. Cano’s gang, is thought to be responsible for over one hundred murders in towns near the Mexican border.

Furthermore, in recent months both Guatemala and Mexico have increased security around the border.  Both hope that these efforts will help reduce the problems and violence that the drug-cartels impose on their countries.  Their efforts seem to be working, as Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina attributed Cano’s arrest to Guatemala’s “excellent coordination with the Mexican authorities” and that it “conclude[d] a successful operation that resulted in the capture of those responsible for the massacre.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Guatemala ‘Drug Lord’ Arrested In Mexico – 05 October 2013

IB Times – Mexican Authorities Capture Guatemala Drug Kingpin – 05 October 2013

Latino Daily News – Mexican Police Arrest Guatemalan Wanted for Cop Killings – 05 October 2013

Updated News – Guatemala ‘Drug Lord’ Arrested In Mexico – 06 October 2013