In what could be called a severe blow to the fight against drug cartels in Mexico the nation’s second most powerful official, Francisco Blake Mora who was the secretary of the interior died among seven other people in a helicopter crash in Tamamalpa, Mexico.

Francisco Blake Mora was the public face of the antidrug campaign. Blake Mora was the second interior secretary to die in an air crash in three years. There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash. Foul play has been ruled out and according to authorities it was probably an accident caused by bad weather.

However these comments could do little as many Mexicans could only imagine the worst. Offices came to a standstill as people tried to digest the news. Twitter and Facebook exploded with commentary, much of it presuming that some criminal group had brought the helicopter down. The president of Mexico Felipe Calderón held a press conference where he he described Mr. Blake Mora as a brilliant young lawyer, a man of absolute integrity and a friend. Mexico, he said, has lost a patriot.

President Obama offered his condolences to president Calderon.

For most Mexicans, Francisco Blake Mora was best known as the loyal point man for the president’s campaign against drug traffickers. Mr. Blake Mora was one of the main managers for an approach that focused on tough frontal, military-style assault on organized crime.

Mexican drug official dies in helicopter crash

Report by Adhir Roy Chowdury