If convicted, the cartel leaders face sentences of up to life in prison.

It is apparently the home of the cartel leader.

Defense lawyers say the cartel leaders were still in Colombia on that date.

Officials say record amounts of drugs have been seized, and senior cartel leaders jailed or killed in operations.

American officials also said they feared that some ongoing operations intended to catch major Mexican cartel leaders might have been compromised.

Some cartel leaders joined him, others he blackmailed or killed.

At the same time, the cartel leaders reportedly attempted to establish ties with both sides in the Nicaraguan civil war.

The police have offered to pay $200,000 for information leading to the capture of cartel leaders.

Lazcano is the most powerful cartel leader to be killed since the start of Mexico's drug war in 2006.

Others said the Americans were drug soldiers killed in a larger battle raging at the time between rival cartel leaders.