Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, known as The Engineer, allegedly ran operations for the Sinaloa drug cartel

Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, known as The Engineer, allegedly ran operations for the Sinaloa drug cartel, Mexico's most powerful, in the northern state of Durango and in part of the northern state of Chihuahua, said Chief Army spokesman General Ricardo Trevilla.

Cabrera, wearing a bulletproof vest, was paraded before the news media in what has become a common practice for law enforcement authorities after major arrests.

Experts and law-enforcement officials believe the reputed leader of the cartel, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been hiding in the mountains of Durango. He has eluded authorities since his 2001 escape from prison and has a US$7 million ($9 million) bounty on his head.

Trevilla offered no information about the hunt for Guzman. He only said Cabrera's capture "will affect the structure and leadership of the Sinaloa cartel", and that forces also seized documents and computer equipment.

Cabrera will be held for at least 40 days on suspicion of participating in organised crime and drug trafficking.