Guatemala arrests top drug baron

Guatemalan and US agents have captured Guatemala's top drug trafficker in a joint effort to prevent the Latin American country from being absorbed into Mexico's drug wars.

Reuters

Considered Guatamela's most important drug smuggler, Juan Ortiz-Lopez was arrested at his home in Quetzaltenango by a US and Guatemalan joint task force on Wednesday.

He was being protected by only two bodyguards, who were arrested as well.

The 41-year-old is suspected, along with others in his gang, of exporting tons of cocaine into Mexico and the US.

Manuel Orozco, of the US-based think tank Inter-American Dialogue, says that while Ecuador has a weaker economy, drug money is easier to launder in Guatemala.

The United States signed a deal six years ago to prevent Guatemala from falling into the same pattern as neighbouring Mexico.

Throughout Mexico, drug gangs fighting for territory have killed more than 36,000 people during the past four years.

Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama pledged another 140 million euros to combat drugs in central America after visiting El Salvador.