Jesús Daniel Vargas Ramírez, presunto líder de Los Zetas en la ciudad de Cardel dies in fire fight with armed forces on Dec. 21.
Forces participating in Operation Safe Veracruz repelled a coordinated assault in the community of Chichicaxtle and after an air and ground operation formed to locate the assailants, they shot and killed Jesus Daniel Vargas Ramirez, alias "El Popeye" alleged leader of the criminal group "Los Zetas" in Ciudad Cardel, Veracruz. The incident occurred shortly after noon on a surveillance trip on the the Cardel-Tamarindo highway. Armed forces were attacked by criminals, who immediately fled.
A ground and air operation was launched achieving the location of Vargas Ramirez, who faced the elements and was gunned down by them. He died at the scene..
During the operation they ensured three vehicles, among them a truck, a car, a taxi and weapons of various calibres which were made made available to competent federal authority.
The abandoned units, shell casings were at a Cardel roadside gas station/restaurant. Officials collected the evidence the Attorney General of the State to continue fulfilling procedures of body removal of the body and corresponding ministerial research
