Mexican drug lord's arrest 'landmark achievement': US

US Attorney General Eric Holder has hailed a "landmark achievement" for Mexico after the arrest of the world's most wanted drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
The United States had offered a USD 5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Guzman, who was captured by Mexican marines in the Pacific resort city of Mazatlan yesterday, putting an end to a 13-year manhunt.
The arrest stemming from US-Mexican coordination dealt a blow to the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's biggest drug-trafficking organisation, a blood-stained empire that stretches along the Pacific coast and smuggles drugs over the border to the United States, as well as to Europe and Asia.

Holder welcomed the capture of the man blamed for much of the drug violence that has plagued Mexico for years as a "landmark achievement, and a victory for the citizens of both Mexico and the United States."
"We are pleased that we were able to work effectively with Mexico through the cooperative relationship that US law enforcement agencies have with their Mexican counterparts," said Holder.
"We look forward to ongoing cooperation, and future successes."

A US security official said Mexican forces swooped on Guzman in a hotel after acting on intelligence from the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.

Holder's Mexican counterpart Jesus Murillo Karam said the arrest was the result of months of work in coordination with the US, which led to 13 arrests and the seizure of more than 100 weapons.
Holder noted that Guzman headed a criminal empire accused of killing and destroying "millions of lives across the globe through drug addiction, violence and corruption."
"We salute the government of Mexico, and the professionalism and courage of the Mexican authorities, for this arrest," he added.
US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson also applauded the arrest as a "significant victory and milestone in our common interest of combating drug trafficking, violence and illicit activity along our shared border."

"We congratulate our Mexican partners in this achievement and we will continue to work collaboratively with them to ensure a border region that is safe and secure for the communities and citizens of both our nations," he added.