In what has become almost a daily routine, the Mexican daily El Universal speculates that Edgar Valdez Villareal, alias “La Barbie,” was not captured but handed himself in to authorities.
Valdez was the top security officers for Arturo Beltán Leyva, alias “El Jefe de Jefes,” killed by authorities in a raid in December 2009. The death split the Beltrán Leyva Organization in two, with Valdez declaring war against Arturo’s brother Hector, who took the reigns of the organization. Valdez, however, was captured just outside of Mexico City in what authorities said was a routine traffic stop. El Universal said he has since been very cooperative and some speculate he’d laid the groundwork for his “capture,” perhaps negotiating with the United States where he was born.