The U.S. government has stepped up its crackdown on Mara Salvatrucha, a violent gang with roots in El Salvador that has been increasing its presence in the United States.

The Treasury Department announced Thursday it had branded the group as a transnational criminal organization, a designation that allows the government to block any assets the gang has in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with the group.

Video by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement

Video by U.S. Coast Guard

Video by U.S. Coast Guard

The Mexican navy says the leader of the powerful Zetas drug cartel, Heriberto Lazcano, was apparently killed in a shootout in a northern border state.

​​A navy statement says two alleged gang members were killed in a gunfight with naval forces in the northern state of Coahuila on Sunday, and there was "strong evidence" that one of them was Lazcano.

However, it says more forensics tests need to be carried out to confirm the identification.

The Zetas are considered one of Mexico's main drug cartels and are known for decapitating and dismembering their enemies.

Video by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Early this morning, Tuesday, October 2, two Border Patrol Agents were shot. One, whose name we do not yet know, was killed. The shootings reportedly took place eight miles north of the international border with Mexico, near the town of Naco, Arizona. The agents were thought to be responding to sensor alerts. Drugs may have been involved but we lack any further details at this moment.

Border agents shot, 1 dead near border station named for Brian Terry

Two Border Patrol agents were shot and one was killed Tuesday morning in southern Arizona near Naco, where the patrol station named in honor of slain agent Brian Terry was dedicated recently.

http://www.examiner.com/article/border-agents-shot-1-dead-near-border-st...

Article by Dave Workman

Video by ABC News