Mexican authorities arrest drug trafficker suspected of shooting Paraguayan footballer in the head

Mexican police yesterday arrested the alleged drug dealer accused of the attempted murder of a Paraguayan football player.

Jose Jorge Baldaras Garza, known as ‘JJ", was detained in Mexico City over the shooting of Salvador Cabanas last year. The drug dealer's model girlfriend Juliana Sossa Toro was also arrested in the raid.

Promising forward Mr Cabanas was shot in the head last January in a bar in the Mexican capital, apparently after an argument over his performance in the Mexican league club Clúb America.

He survived the attack but still has the bullet lodged in his brain. He is unable to resume his career.

Balderas Garza was arrested in an upmarket Mexico City neighbourhood along with six other people – including Toro - by the country's anti-drug unit.

Detained: Jose Jorge 'JJ' Balderas Garza is presented to the media after being arrested as the prime suspect in the shooting of Paraguayan footballer Salvador Cabanas

Arrest: The drug dealer's girlfriend Juliana Sossa Toro (left) was also taken into custody. Baldaras Garza is accused of shooting Salvador Cabanas (right) in the head  

Balderas Garza was detained in possession of powerful assault rifles and illegal drugs, said federal police official Ramon Pequeno.

The alleged shooter of Mr Cabanas had accused a security guard who was with him on January 25 of carrying out the near-fatal gun attack.

Suspects: Balderaz Garza (centre) and Toro (furthest left) along with five other people suspected of involvement in the shooting last year

But after the security guard, Francisco Jose Barreto, was detained last June, Balderas Garza emerged as the prime suspect.

Balderas Garza had allegedly trafficked cocaine for drug lord Edgar Valdez, alias 'La Barbie', who was captured earlier this year.

Valdez told police he had helped Balderas Garza hide out after the Cabanas shooting and the manhunt had extended to Colombia before his capture this week.

Mr Cabanas, 29, had been set to go to the World Cup in South Africa with Paraguay last June after leading the national team through qualifying matches.

After time in a Mexico City hospital and a Buenos Aires clinic, Cabanas retued home to Paraguay.

He is suing his former Mexican club for his rehabilitation costs.