Mexico's Nuevo Leon state police intelligence chief was murdered in a massive fireball by gunmen who blew up the official vehicle he was in, state government officials said Monday. Skip related content
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Forensic personnel examine a burnt down car found with the corpse of Homero Salcido …More Enlarge photo

Homero Salcido was driving alone late Sunday on a street in the middle of prosperous Monterrey when the head of the intelligence unit known as C-5 was targeted by unidentified gunmen who may have caused his truck to explode by shooting the gas tank or hitting him with a small bomb, officials said.

"I wish to express my sincerest condolences and solidarity with his family," Nuevo Leon governor Rodrigo Medina said during a speech.

Monterrey, a prosperous city and home to the local operations of several multinational corporations, is at the intersection of several highways -- often used as drug smuggling routes -- heading north into the United States.

Two rival drug organizations, the Gulf cartel and their former allies, the Zetas, are battling for control of the area.

More than 34,600 people have died in drug trafficking related violence since December 2006, when the government of President Felipe Calderon deployed soldiers and federal police in a widespread crackdown on the illegal cartels.

Source - Yahoo News.