The killings were among a series of reprisals by La Familia after federal police captured one of the group 's top leaders , authorities said . Arrests part of a string of high-level apprehensions targeting Mexican drug cartel . La Familia Michoacana suspected in slayings of 12 federal police officers this month . The arrests come as the U.S. government is stepping up its fight against Mexico's powerful and violent cartels that have been blamed for thousands of killings since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive to crush them two years
Arrests part of a string of high-level apprehensions targeting Mexican drug cartel . La Familia Michoacana suspected in slayings of 12 federal police officers this month . The arrests come as the U.S. government is stepping up its fight against Mexico's powerful and violent cartels that have been blamed for thousands of killings since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive to crush them two years