Mexican drug cartel hitman wanted for 9 murders arrested

The Chihuahua state attorney general's office announced Wednesday the arrest of Mario Alonso Galvan Valdez, a suspected lieutenant to Oscar Eduardo "El Negro" Vargas Romo, the alleged leader of a Sinaloa cartel cell in the Valley of Juarez — by Chihuahua state police, The El Paso Times reported. less The Chihuahua state attorney general's office announced Wednesday the arrest of Mario Alonso Galvan Valdez, a suspected lieutenant to Oscar Eduardo "El Negro" Vargas Romo, the alleged leader of a Sinaloa ... more Photo: Chihuahua State Police Photo: Chihuahua State Police Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Mexican drug cartel hitman wanted for 9 murders arrested 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Mexican authorities have arrested a suspected hit man for the Sinaloa drug cartel who is wanted for more than nine murders, according to media reports.

The Chihuahua state attorney general's office announced Wednesday the arrest of Mario Alonso Galvan Valdez, a suspected lieutenant to Oscar Eduardo "El Negro" Vargas Romo, the alleged leader of a Sinaloa cartel cell in the Valley of Juarez — by Chihuahua state police, The El Paso Times reported.

RELATED: Mexican cartel hitwoman 'La Flaca' found dismembered, stuffed in cooler

Authorities arrested Vargas in March and previously arrested two other suspected leaders Isidro "El Pantera" Soto and Mauricio "El Papacho" Luna Aguilar, according to the newspaper.

"'El Chino' along with 'El Papacho' and 'El Pantera' were the execution arm of 'El Negro' to carry out killings, and run the criminal activities of the criminal organization," a news release from the agency stated.

The arrest comes after Jose Rodrigo Arechiga-Gamboa, a high-ranking enforcer for the Sinaloa cartel known as "El Chino Antrax," admitted last month to a federal judge in California that he helped coordinate the transport of tons of marijuana and cocaine and was "a direct participant in, and communicated to other members of the Sinaloa Cartel, orders to commit acts of violence or threats of violence."

RELATED: 12 safe travel destinations in Mexico, according to the U.S. State Department

The Sinaloa cartel operates in 17 Mexican states and about 50 counties including the United States, according to InSight Crime.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports