TIJUANA – The leader of a gang accused of smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States is incarcerated in Mexico on organized crime and human smuggling charges.

Jose Luis Naranjo-Ramirez, who is in his late 40s and is also known as “El Sorga”, was arrested by Mexican authorities June 5, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. The gang used tough tactics that endangered the lives of many illegal immigrants crossing the border since the early 1990s, officials said.

The arrest culminated a 30-month investigation that included close cooperation between law enforcement from both countries.

U.S. officials are still mulling whether to request Ramirez's extradition to this country to face criminal charges here, an agency spokesman said Monday.

---