2 Mexico soldiers found dead after helicopter downed

Mexican authorities have found the bodies of two soldiers who disappeared after a drug cartel brought down a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, officials said Monday.

Federal police chief Enrique Galindo said authorities believe a leader of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel was in a convoy of gunmen when the Cougar helicopter's tail rotor was hit in western Mexico on Friday.

The authorities had reported that the downing between the towns of Casimiro Castillo and Villa Purificacion had killed three soldiers, wounded a dozen and left three others missing, sparking an intense search in a rural area of Jalisco state.

"We believe that there was a leader of this criminal group during these events in Casimiro Castillo and for that reason there was a reaction of this size," Galindo told Radio Formula, confirming that the gang had used an RPG-type weapon.

The cartel is led by Nemesio Oseguera, "El Mencho," but Galindo said no leaders were detained during an operation that captured 19 people.

The helicopter attack came on the day of the launch of Operation Jalisco, which aims to dismantle the cartel. The gang also set fire to dozens of vehicles and banks across the state.

The bodies of two of the missing soldiers were found over the weekend while the third has yet to be located.

"Unfortunately, DNA tests show that there are five dead," National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido told Televisa broadcaster, adding that the helicopter had caught fire.

Rubido refused to speculate as to whether the soldier who remains missing could have been kidnapped by the cartel.

Galindo said Jalisco state was relatively calm over the weekend following Friday's mayhem.