Drug kingpin admits to killing US couple

A drug gang leader has said he ordered the killing of a US consulate worker because she gave visas to a rival gang in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, according to police.

Jesus Ernesto Chavez, whose arrest was announced yesterday, leads a band of hitmen for a street gang tied to the Juarez cartel, said Ramon Pequeno, the head of anti-narcotics for the federal police.

Mr Pequeno said Mr Chavez ordered the attack on 13 March that killed US consulate employee Lesley Enriquez and her husband in the violent border city because Ms Enriquez gave visas to a rival gang.

Ms Enriquez and her husband, Arthur Redelfs, were killed when gunmen opened fire on their SUV. Their seven-month-old daughter was found in the back of the vehicle.