Key Gulf Cartel figure killed in northern Mexico

MEXICO CITY - Gunmen killed a leading Gulf Cartel commander who was sought by the U.S. and believed to be behind a split with a rival cartel that intensified Mexico's drug violence, authorities said Friday.

Samuel Flores Borrego, also know as el "Metro 3," was shot dead near Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas, in what appears to be an attack by members of his own cartel, the Attorney General's Office said in a statement. He was found Friday along with the body of a police officer.

Flores, 39, is believed to be responsible for the January 2010 killing of a Zetas cartel member that led to a rupture between the groups, U.S. anti-drug officials have said. The Zetas were once a group of hit men for the Gulf Cartel, but following the split they formed their own cartel and fighting between the groups for territory and drug turf has caused violence to soar in parts of Mexico.

The U.S. government had a reward of up to $5 million for the capture of Flores, who faced drug-trafficking charges north of the border, according to a 20-person 2010 indictment of the District of Columbia.

The indictment says he was the Gulf Cartel's chief in the border cities of Reynosa and Miguel Aleman and gathered information of police and security forces.

Meanwhile, in a central Mexican state, police arrested 31 suspected drug cartel members, including 16 police officers who allegedly were paid to protect the Zetas gang.

Hidalgo state police chief Damian Canales said the arrests began when police nabbed three alleged robbers earlier this week carrying about 30 yellow envelopes stuffed with a total of 100,000 pesos, or $8,100. Canales said it was the cartel payroll and some of the envelopes were marked with the names of police officers.

Hidalgo is the home state of alleged Zetas leader Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano and a transit point for drugs. Hidalgo authorities in May arrested a police chief, commanding officers and agents suspected of helping the Zetas.