MEXICO CITY — Mexican police and soldiers on Wednesday captured Omar Trevino Morales, widely considered to be the key leader of the Zetas drug cartel, which once carved a path of brutal bloodshed along the country’s northern border with the United States, a federal official said.
The official, who was not authorized to be quoted by name because of government policy, said the man known as ‘‘Z-42’’ was arrested in a predawn raid in San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy suburb of the northern city of Monterrey.
Mexico had offered a $2 million reward for his capture on weapons and organized crime charges.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration had offered a $5 million reward for his capture, saying he was wanted on drug-trafficking charges. It listed ‘‘Omar’’ as an alias and his given name as Alejandro. DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said they are the same person.
The suspect is the brother of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, described as the most bloodthirsty leader of Mexico’s most violent cartel.
Miguel Angel was arrested in July 2013, almost a year after marines killed the Zetas cartel’s other leader, Heriberto Lazcano ‘‘El Lazca.’’
Omar Trevino Morales apparently took over leadership of the Zetas after his brother’s arrest in 2013.
The Zetas left a trail of brutality, bloodshed, and mutilated bodies during their turf battles with the rival Gulf cartel.