A Mexican drugs cartel boss has died after his car crashed into a wall during an illegal drag race.

Jesus Francisco Sarrazin Lorh – nicknamed El Pirata (The Pirate) – was fatally injured when his car overturned after smashing into a wall during the race at a track in Hermosillo, Sonora State, on 25th November.

Witnesses told local media that the dragster’s brakes had seemed to fail just before it had hit the wall.

El Pirata was seriously injured and was taken to Clinic 14 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security.

He was admitted under the false name of Efren Saul Yocupicio Colorado, and it was only after he had died that it was discovered that he was actually a wanted criminal.

It transpired that there was an arrest warrant against him for unlawful deprivation of liberty, and a handgun was found among his belongings.

Local media reported that El Pirata was the head of the criminal group Los Salazar – an armed faction of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel – and that he was one of Sinaloa State’s most wanted men.

Members of Los Salazar are allegedly involved in producing drugs and trafficking them to the US state of Arizona, in addition to trafficking migrants.

The Sinaloa cartel is an international crime organisation that is among the most-powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world.

Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman – who is currently incarcerated in a supermax prison in Colorado, USA – is among its former leaders.