Top European fugitive reportedly captured in Mexico

A Hungarian individual suspected of being involved in drug trafficking, who is among Europe's most wanted criminals, has been captured in Mexico, according to the country's public security office on Saturday.

Janos Balla, also known by the alias Daniel Takacs, was taken into custody in Cancun, a popular city on the Yucatan peninsula, as Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed through a post on X. 

He emphasised that the suspect is one of the top 10 most wanted people in Europe.

Interpol issued a red notice for Balla, and Europol released an official arrest warrant, according to a report from his ministry.

The 48-year-old from Hungary faces accusations of managing a criminal network that transported cocaine and ecstasy from mid-2014 until April 2015, as reported by Europol.

The Mexican authorities shared photos showing Balla, wearing a palm-patterned shirt and sporting a light beard, as he was escorted by police and security forces.

Through collaboration with Hungarian officials, János Balla, also known as “Dániel Takács,” has been captured, regarded as one of Europe's top 10 most wanted.

In a combined report, regional and national authorities announced that Balla was located with the assistance of Hungarian security data, alongside intelligence and investigative work. 

He has been transferred to Mexico's immigration department "to assess his immigration status and carry out his orderly deportation to Europe."

It's currently uncertain if Balla has arranged for a lawyer.

Balla's detention is the newest in a series of notable fugitive captures in Mexico over the last few weeks.

In March, a suspect sought in both Colombia and Ecuador for the murder of Ecuadorian presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio in Quito in 2023 was detained in Mexico.

Moreover, last month, a US fugitive was captured in Mexico just over an hour after being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, achieving the fastest apprehension in the list’s history.