Mexican police have arrested a drug cartel member accused of murdering 49 people near the border with Texas earlier this year, officials said on Friday.

Jose Ricardo Barajas Lopez, a known member of the Los Zetas drug cartel, was arrested Tuesday in Santa Catarina, a city in Nuevo Leon state, according to LaJornada. The arrest was announced by officials on Friday.

Lopez is accused of murdering 49 people and dumping their bodies in Cadereyta on May 13th of this year. He had previously escaped from a prison in Apodaca with 36 others in February. Officials said he is linked to the murders by both physical evidence and a letter from the Los Zetas claiming responsibility.

Upon his arrest, police recovered from his possession a rifle, two stolen vehicles and several cell phones.