MEXICO CITY (AFP) — A suspected drug cartel hitman accused of organizing an attack on the US consulate in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey in October has been arrested by security forces, said President Felipe Calderon.

“The Mexican army has arrested Sigifredo Najera, aka El Canicon, (who was) directly responsible for the torture and killing of soldiers and the attack on the US consulate,” Calderon announced late Friday.

In a boost for Calderon, Mexico on Thursday arrested the son of top Sinaloan kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who is wanted in the United States.

El Mayo runs the ruthless Sinaloa coalition along with the country’s most-wanted fugitive, Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman. Last week, Forbes Magazine estimated Guzman’s wealth at $1 billion.