MEXICO CITY – Mexico captured a suspected drug smuggler who is the nephew of the country's most wanted drug lord, Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman, federal police said Saturday.

Police arrested Isai Martinez Zepeda, 25, on weapons possession charges. Martinez Zepeda was carrying a rifle and handgun when authorities found him in a house in Culiacan, Sinaloa – home to a coalition of cartels run by Guzman.

Martinez Zepeda said he was the brother of Enoc Martinez Zepeda, who was captured in July 2005 at an army checkpoint in Sinaloa on grounds he was a member of Guzman's drug gang, police said.

In May, hitmen from a rival cartel killed one of Guzman's sons. About 40 people opened fire on Edgar Guzman as he stepped out of his armored pickup truck outside a shopping center. Police captured one of Guzman's cousins this year.

President Felipe Calderón has deployed 25,000 troops and federal police to fight the well-armed cartels that smuggle cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines to the United States.

About 1,550 people have died this year as drug gangs battle each other and security forces.

(Reporting by Chris Aspin)