MEXICO CITY, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexican authorities have captured the head of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, Jose Antonio Yepez, better known as "El Marro," official sources said on Sunday.

Yepez was arrested at daybreak by members of the army and the prosecutor's office for the central state of Guanajuato, where the cartel operates, Mexico's Minister of Security and Civilian Protection Alfonso Durazo said via Twitter.

"Right now he is in the custody of local judicial authorities," Durazo said.

Yepez was to be taken immediately to Altiplano, a high-security prison, to face charges of organized crime and fuel theft.

The drug lord was detained along with five others in Guanajuato, in an operation that also rescued a business woman they were holding captive, federal and state authorities said in a brief statement.

Santa Rosa de Lima is believed to be involved in the siphoning off of fuel from state oil company Pemex's fuel ducts in Guanajuato, which is among the three states where fuel theft is most prevalent.

Santa Rosa de Lima is also said to be in a constant turf war with the rival Jalisco New Generation Cartel for control of Guanajuato, according to authorities.