The Office of the Attorney General of the State of Guerrero reported the arrest in Iguala of Juan Carlos Pérez, "El Colorado," one of the assassins of the "Los Viagras" cartel in the municipality of Zirándaro de los Chávez.
According to the authorities, he is responsible for at least 20 killings, among them the death of rancher Raúl Romero Díaz in the community of Guayameo.
Police sources reported that an intense intelligence labor ended in the full identification of the alleged hit-men leader and the issue of an arrest warrant against him for a killing committed last January 15 in the community of Guayameo, in Zirándaro.
To avoid detention, "El Colorado" took on the identity of a peasant, even being able to regain his freedom by paying a US$162 bail after being arrested along his wife.
According to the authorities, Juan Carlos Pérez has been working for organized crime for the last 15 years.
According to his criminal records, "El Colorado," then a member of the "Familia Michoacana," was arrested in 2010 by the Mexican army in the area of Charapo, in the municipality of Churumuco, Michoacán, and was found in possession of grenades and military-grade weapons.
At the time, his wife Adalberta Acosta Nuñez declared that the weapons belonged to her former husband Matilde Reyes and "El Colorado" was released.
He then tried to join the self-defense forces headed by doctor Juan José Mireles, but he was rejected due to his criminal record, and then joined the "Knights Templar" under the service of Servando Gómez Martínez "La Tuta".
He is responsible for the exodus of more than 300 families from the communities of El Terrero, Cupuán, Aratichangio, Las Juntas de Cujarán, Ziritzicuaro, La Carrerita, Cocochas, and La Pareja.