( CNN ) -- One of Mexico 's most-wanted fugitives , an original member of the violent Zetas drug cartel , has been arrested in southern Mexico , officials said Tuesday . Flavio Mendez Santiago , alias `` El Amarillo , '' was arrested Monday in a federal police operation in a town north of Oaxaca , Mexico , Mexico 's public security ministry said . The Zetas is one of Mexico 's major drug trafficking organizations , which are involved in various turf wars throughout the country that have resulted in thousands of violent killings . Mendez , 35 , was on a list of Mexico 's 37 most-wanted fugitives . There was a 15 million peso ( $ 1.2 million ) reward for his capture . It was not immediately known if someone would claim that money . Arrest warrants were out for Mendez in the states of Oaxaca , Chiapas , and the federal district where Mexico City sits . He is being investigated for attempted murder , organized crime , and crimes against health , the ministry said . At one time , he was the personal bodyguard for Osiel Cardenas Guillen , the now-imprisoned leader of the Gulf cartel . The Zetas were created as an enforcement arm of the Gulf cartel , but have since split into their own organization at odds with their former employers . In 1993 , Mendez was recruited as a founder of the Zetas . He rose to lead the group 's informal spy network of `` hawks '' in northern Mexico , and most recently was in charge of cartel operations in southern Mexico , the ministry said . He is also believed to be in charge of controlling the flow of illegal immigrants coming into Mexico from Central and South America . Mendez was arrested together with Carlos Alejandro Rodriguez , his personal bodyguard . The arrest is a blow to the Zetas operations , though the organization 's top leadership , including bosses Heriberto Lazcano and Miguel Trevino , remain at large . According to the government , there have been more than 34,600 drug-related deaths since President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on cartels in December 2006 .
Flavio Mendez Santiago was arrested Monday night in a federal police operation . The arrest came after the U.S. State Department issued an alert to American citizens about his possible links with terrorist groups. Mendez was on a list of Mexico 's 37 most-wanted fugitives .