Mexican police have seized a personalized gold-plated AR-15 assault rifle from a boss of the fearsome Las Bigotonas gang.
Víctor Iván N., known as 'El Yori', was captured last week in Tehuacán, in the central Puebla state. He was allegedly in possession of 38 dime bags of crystal meth as well as the ostentatious assault rifle.
Officers also found 20 cartridges for the weapon during the arrest. Cops say the suspect has masterminded robbery, drug smuggling, arms dealing and is also linked with several murder cases.
El Yori's assault rifle was decorated with a carving of Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Holy Death), an icon in Mexico's traditional 'Day of the Dead' celebrations which is worshipped by many drug traffickers for the safe delivery of illicit cargo.
El Yori is being held in custody. It is unclear if he has been charged yet.
The seizure of the weapon comes after the slaying of a 21-year-old female gang leader at the beginning of the year who toted a gold-plated AK-47.
Maria Guadalupe Lopez Esquivel, known as 'La Catrina', was suspected of being one of the leading figures of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and was well known for flaunting social media posts.
She was allegedly responsible for managing a team of cartel hitmen and was fatally shot through the neck during a police raid in the municipality of Aguililla on January 10.
Esquivel's body was decorated with tattoos, including one of a 'Catrina' icon on her thigh - a skeletal female figure with a wide hat that has become associated with Mexico's Day of the Dead.
Women have sometimes occupied high-level positions as money launderers in drug cartels in the past, but it is rare for them to command or coordinate hit squads.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
