Mexican police arrest 'El Chapo' drug cartel CFO

Jalisco Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer attends a news conference announcing the abduction of one of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman's sons, at the Pacific tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Aug 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

MEXICO CITY - Mexican authorities on Thursday arrested the alleged chief financial officer of the Sinaloa Cartel, which was formerly headed by now-jailed drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) said.

Victor Manuel Felix Beltran, alias "El Vic," was wanted by the United States, where Guzman is serving a prison sentence, and by Mexico, where he was known to be the financial operator for El Chapo's sons Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar.

"Early this morning ... agents arrested Victor Manuel on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering," the head of the PGR's specialized organized crime investigative unit (SEIDO), Israel Lira, told reporters at a press conference.

Nearly 30 SEIDO agents were involved in the operation to arrest Felix Beltran, 30, at an apartment building in western Mexico City's modern Santa Fe business and residential district.

According to Lira, the suspect carried out the cartel's financial transactions and laundered money using false identifications to buy real estate, property, vehicles and businesses.

Felix Beltran also served as the cartel's contact with criminal groups in the southern state of Guerrero, and is believed to have smuggled drugs into the United States.

A native of Sinaloa, Felix Beltran is the son of former cartel member Manuel Felix Felix, "El 69," captured by Mexican police in March 2011.