World Cup produces arrest of Mexican drug lord going to game

BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil arrested a suspected Mexican drug trafficker on his way to watch his national soccer team play in the World Cup. He had bought a ticket under his own name.

Jose Diaz-Barajas, 49, was arrested at Rio de Janeiro's Tom Jobim airport Monday night as he boarded a plane to Fortaleza, where Mexico played Brazil Tuesday, Luiz Cravo Dorea, head of international cooperation at the Federal Police, said. The world soccer governing body, FIFA, had informed police that Diaz-Barajas, who was accompanied by his wife and two children, held tickets, Dorea said. FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer declined to comment when asked about its cooperation with the police.

"Barajas was one of the most sought traffickers in the United States," Dorea said in Brasilia. "He will remain imprisoned in Rio until his extradition to the U.S. is determined."

Since taking office in 2012, President Enrique Pena Nieto has succeeded in rounding up leaders of Mexico's top drug cartels after drug-related violence left more than 90,000 dead or missing since 2006. They include Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, the world's most-wanted criminal, and Miguel Angel Trevino, the head of the Zetas Cartel.

U.S. and international security agencies often beef up their presence in cities with large sporting events such as boxing and World Cup matches to nab kingpins who attend competitions, said Mike Vigil, a retired former head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"A lot of them are big sports fanatics," Vigil said. "It's a great time to apprehend these individuals."