Mexico's top drug lord gets paraded before the cameras — here's what it looked like

Mexico’s newest drug-war trophy— captured kingpin Servando “La Tuta” Gomez Martinez — did the handcuff shuffle before the cameras at Mexico City airport last night before being whisked away by helicopter to his new home at the maximum security prison of Altiplano.

The prison, which already houses infamous drug lord Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman and other top cartel bosses, has become Mexico’s drug-war trophy room.

The U.S. government congratulated Mexico.

“La Tuta led one of the world’s most vicious and violent drug and criminal networks. He not only headed the drug trafficking activities, but was in charge of all organized crime, including extortion, kidnappings, and murder. We congratulate the brave members of the Mexican Federal Police for their successful operation and look forward to more successes against global organized crime,” DEA administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement.

Tuta’s brother was also captured in the Friday morning raid in Morelia, Michoacan.

Tuta’s capture and transport out of Morelia included a show-of-force by Mexican officials. Here’s what it looked like to those on the ground.

Photographs and video by Tania Miranda