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ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood
LAKEWOOD — A Mexican national, who is also an active Cartel del Noreste gang member, was taken into custody Monday in the township, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Jose Heladio Bonilla-Sanchez, who ICE described as a 'criminal alien,' had been deported from the United States three previous times.
The agency said the individual is in ICE custody 'pending removal and federal prosecution for illegal reentry.'
Details about the arrest were not immediately available.
The Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, formerly known as Los Zetas, is one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The Cartel del Noreste exerts significant influence over the U.S.-Mexican border, especially near the crossing between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Lardeo, Texas, according to the Treasury Department.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood NJ
