Pimp my shooter: The amazing bling guns that belong to Mexico's drug lords


Mexican soldiers have seized an arsenal of gold-plated and diamond-encrusted weapons believed to belong to the Valencia gang, allies of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel and, it seems, fans of hip-hip excess.

Showing just how flamboyant gang members spend much of their ill-gotten wealth, pictures show how most of the 31 'pimped' pistols found in a raid on a home in western Mexico had gold or silver-plated grips or were glittered with diamonds.

Three of the assault rifles are almost entirely gold-plated and there was even a silencer plated with gold. One particularly image-conscious gangster has made his pistol unique by adding rows of gaudy red and green jewels and a Ferrari logo.

Gangster haul: the weapons were plated with silver and gold, encrusted with diamonds, and one even emblazioned with a Ferrari logo

Gangster bling: The weapons were plated with silver and gold, encrusted with diamonds, and one even emblazoned with a Ferrari logo

Identification documents were found at the home on the outskirts of the western city of Guadalajara in the name of Oscar Nava Valencia.

The Attorney General's Office said he is a leader of the Valencia gang who has worked with Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.

On Mexico's southern Pacific coast, the Mexican navy announced that a Mexican fishing boat and its five-member crew had been captured while transporting nearly 5,300 pounds (2,400kg) of cocaine.

Silver heat: Even the ammunition magazines were covered with silver

Silver heat: Even the ammunition magazines were covered with silver

Dazzling: The barrel of one weapon sparkles with the gleam of small diamonds

Dazzling: The barrel of one weapon sparkles with the gleam of small diamonds

The 78ft boat was detained on April 27 in international waters, after local authorities received information from U.S. officials.

They found 105 bales of cocaine in hidden compartments in the boat's fuel tanks.

Above and below: Some of the riles were almost entirely gold plated

Some of the weapons, snatched from the notorious Valencia gang, were almost entirely gold and silver-plated

guns

Large arsenal: Mexican soldiers who carried out the raid found more than 30 weapons that had been 'pimped' with silver, gold and diamonds

The boat is believed to have picked up the drugs in Colombia.

On Sunday, police said they captured a man believed to be the leader of the Zetas drug gang in the southern state of Chiapas.

Prosecutors in neighboring Tabasco state said suspect Pablo Martinez Rojas was detained near the border with Chiapas, along with four alleged accomplices.

They said the suspects carried out killings and kidnappings for the Zetas, a gang founded by army deserters.

Three assault rifles and pistols were found in the men's possession.

Handle with care: This gun is so bejewelled that even the trigger has diamonds set in it

Handle with care: This gun is so bejewelled that even the trigger has diamonds set in it