Michoacan News: Knights Templar Leader 'El Tío' Captured In Morelia

Dionisio Loya Plancarte, known as “El Tío” has been captured early on Monday morning in Morelia. Plancarte is one of the seven leaders of the Knights Templar drug cartel in Michoacan. He was found hidden in a closet inside a home in Morelia by Federal Police troops. The drug boss was found with a young boy, who was presented before the Public Ministry, according to Monte Alejandro Rubido García from Mexico's National Public Security System. No shots were fired in the arrest.

Dionisio Loya Plancarte is now in custody in Mexico City, where the country's Attorney General will determine his legal situation. The Mexican Government is accusing 'El Tio' of various crimes connected wit hthe Knights Templar cartel. Rubido Garcia explained that specifically, Plancarte is wanted on 14 charges which include drugtrafficking and organized crime. 'El Tio' was in charge of distributing drugs in the main plaza of Morelia and liked to intimidate his opponents via videos uploaded to Youtube.

"He has direct links with this criminal group (The Knights Templar). He was identified by the videos he released on social media, where he revealed key activities of the criminal group and threatened opposing groups in Michoacan," said Monte Alejandro Rubido García. Plancarte has been a wanted man in Mexico since 2009 when a reward of 2.3 million dollars was placed on his head. Plancarte wa formerly one of the heads of the La Familia Michoacana carel before it splintered into the Kinghts Templar.