1.   A man accused of heading a kidnap ring in the Mexico City area was arrested on Monday, the federal Justice Department announced.

2.   Morelos is one of the states most plagued by kidnappings and officials have been accused of protecting some kidnap rings.

3.   Several state authorities in Morelos, where Arizmendi operated, resigned in recent months after top law enforcement officials were implicated in helping and protecting kidnap rings.

4.   The kidnap ring headed by fugitive Daniel Arizmendi allegedly paid off policemen and cut gashes into the ears of its victims.

5.   The practice made them one of the most feared of many kidnap rings plaguing Mexico in recent years.