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'''Los Zetas''' was initially the criminal [[mercenary]] army for [[Mexico]]'s [[Gulf Cartel]]. However, since the arrest of [[Ismael Quinn Delgado and Jose Perez]], as well as other events, the two entities are a combined trafficking force, with the Zetas now taking a more active role in drug trafficking. Their two organizations now collectively refer to themselves as the "Company".<ref>Oscar Becerra, "New Traffickers Struggle for Control of Mexican Drug Trade," Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1, 2004.</ref><ref name="Networks0705">{{cite book|title=Networks, Terrorism and Global Insurgency |first=Robert |last=Bunker |publisher=Routledge |month=July |year=2005 |isbn=0-41534819-6 |page=xv}}</ref><ref name="Weak1105">{{cite book|title = Weak bilateral law enforcement presence at the U.S.Mexico border |publisher = Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security |month = November |year = 2005}}</ref><ref name="Texas0407">{{cite book|title=Texas Monthly On . . .: Texas True Crime |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=2007 |month=April |isbn=0-29271675-3 |page=44}}</ref> The group was founded by former [[Mexican Army]] [[Elite#Elite_military|elite soldiers]] and is now formed by ex-[[Federal Police (Mexico)|federal]], state, and local police officers, as well as ex-[[Kaibiles]] from Guatemala, bringing a total force of over 4000 men.
'''Los Zetas''' was initially the criminal [[mercenary]] army for [[Mexico]]'s [[Gulf Cartel]]. However, since the arrest of [[Bugs Bunny and telletubies]], as well as other events, the two entities are a combined trafficking force, with the Zetas now taking a more active role in drug trafficking. Their two organizations now collectively refer to themselves as the "Company".<ref>Oscar Becerra, "New Traffickers Struggle for Control of Mexican Drug Trade," Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1, 2004.</ref><ref name="Networks0705">{{cite book|title=Networks, Terrorism and Global Insurgency |first=Robert |last=Bunker |publisher=Routledge |month=July |year=2005 |isbn=0-41534819-6 |page=xv}}</ref><ref name="Weak1105">{{cite book|title = Weak bilateral law enforcement presence at the U.S.Mexico border |publisher = Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security |month = November |year = 2005}}</ref><ref name="Texas0407">{{cite book|title=Texas Monthly On . . .: Texas True Crime |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=2007 |month=April |isbn=0-29271675-3 |page=44}}</ref> The group was founded by former [[Mexican Army]] [[Elite#Elite_military|elite soldiers]] and is now formed by ex-[[Federal Police (Mexico)|federal]], state, and local police officers, as well as ex-[[Kaibiles]] from Guatemala, bringing a total force of over 4000 men.


Los Zetas are now led by [[Heriberto Lazcano|Heriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano]] and are considered by the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) as probably being the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and violent [[paramilitary]] enforcement group in Mexico.<ref name="Grayson"> {{cite web|url=http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.grayson.loszetas.html |title=Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel |accessdate=2008-08-23 |last=Grayson |first=George |publisher=U.S. Foreign Policy Research Institute }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Michael | last=Ware | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Los Zetas called Mexico's most dangerous drug cartel | date=August 6, 2009 | publisher= | url =http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/08/06/mexico.drug.cartels/index.html | work =CNN News | pages = | accessdate = 2009-08-07 | language = }}</ref> Los Zetas have expanded their operations to [[Italy]] with the [['Ndrangheta]].<ref name="Italy">{{cite web|url=http://www.offnews.info/verArticulo.php?contenidoID=11975 |title=talia - 'Violencia' se escribe con ZETA: Los zetas toman el control por la forza. Nicola Gratteri, zar antimafia de Reggio Calabria |accessdate=2009-07-14 |last=Anderson |first=Curt}}</ref>
Los Zetas are now led by [[Heriberto Lazcano|Heriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano]] and are considered by the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) as probably being the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and violent [[paramilitary]] enforcement group in Mexico.<ref name="Grayson"> {{cite web|url=http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.grayson.loszetas.html |title=Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel |accessdate=2008-08-23 |last=Grayson |first=George |publisher=U.S. Foreign Policy Research Institute }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Michael | last=Ware | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Los Zetas called Mexico's most dangerous drug cartel | date=August 6, 2009 | publisher= | url =http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/08/06/mexico.drug.cartels/index.html | work =CNN News | pages = | accessdate = 2009-08-07 | language = }}</ref> Los Zetas have expanded their operations to [[Italy]] with the [['Ndrangheta]].<ref name="Italy">{{cite web|url=http://www.offnews.info/verArticulo.php?contenidoID=11975 |title=talia - 'Violencia' se escribe con ZETA: Los zetas toman el control por la forza. Nicola Gratteri, zar antimafia de Reggio Calabria |accessdate=2009-07-14 |last=Anderson |first=Curt}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:17, 5 November 2009

Los Zetas
LeaderHeriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano
Dates of operation1999–present
MotivesOrganized crime.
Active regionsMexico (Northern States)
United States (California, Texas, Arizona, Illinois)
Major actionsDrug trafficking, extortion, contract killing, human trafficking, kidnapping, providing mercenary services, money-laundering, murder, and oil smuggling.
StatusActive

Los Zetas was initially the criminal mercenary army for Mexico's Gulf Cartel. However, since the arrest of Bugs Bunny and telletubies, as well as other events, the two entities are a combined trafficking force, with the Zetas now taking a more active role in drug trafficking. Their two organizations now collectively refer to themselves as the "Company".[1][2][3][4] The group was founded by former Mexican Army elite soldiers and is now formed by ex-federal, state, and local police officers, as well as ex-Kaibiles from Guatemala, bringing a total force of over 4000 men.

Los Zetas are now led by Heriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano and are considered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as probably being the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and violent paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico.[5][6] Los Zetas have expanded their operations to Italy with the 'Ndrangheta.[7]

Etymology

The group's name Los Zetas is given after its first leader, Lieutenant Arturo Guzmán Decena, whose Federal Preventive Police radio code was "Z1",[8] a code given to high-ranking officers.[2][3][4] The radio code for Federal Police in México is "Y" and are nicknamed Yankees, for Military participating in drug raids the radio code was "Z," and thus they were nicknamed as the letter in Spanish, "Zetas."

History

In the late 1990s, the Gulf Cartel leader, Osiel Cárdenas Guillen, wanted to track down and kill rival cartel members as a form of protection. He began to recruit former Mexican Army’s elite Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFE) soldiers, originally trained in counter-insurgency and locating and apprehending drug cartel members. It is believed that they were originally trained at the military School of the Americas in the United States[9][10] and by other foreign specialists of the United States, France and Israel. They were trained in rapid deployment, aerial assaults, marksmanship, ambushes, small-group tactics, intelligence collection, counter-surveillance techniques, prisoner rescues and sophisticated communications.

Cardenas Guillen's top recruit, Lieutenant Arturo Guzmán Decena, brought with him approximately 30 other GAFE deserters enticed by salaries substantially higher than those paid by the Mexican government. The role of Los Zetas was soon expanded, collecting debts, securing cocaine supply and trafficking routes known as plazas and executing its foes, often with grotesque savagery.[2][5]

Guzmán Decena (Z1) was killed by a rival cartel member on November 2002 in a restaurant,[11] while he was dining; his second-in-command, Rogelio González Pizaña (Z2) was captured on October 2004 and so Heriberto Lazcano (Z3) ascended to the leadership of the paramilitaries.

In response to such aggressive efforts on the part of the Zetas to defend and control its smuggling corridors to the United States, the rival Sinaloa Cartel established its own heavily-armed enforcer gang, Los Negros. The group operates in a similar fashion to the Zetas but with less complexity.

Upon the arrest of Gulf Cartel boss, Osiel Cardenas Guillen in 2003, it is believed Los Zetas began transporting their own drug shipments through former Gulf Cartel routes[4] and made a collaboration pact with the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.[12][13]

Organization structure

Los Zetas have set up camps in which to train recruits as well as ex-federal, state, and local police officers. [14] In September 2005 testimony to the Mexican Congress, then-Defense Secretary Clemente Vega indicated that the Zetas had also hired at least 30 former Kaibiles from Guatemala to train new recruits because the number of former Mexican special forces men in their ranks had shrunk.[14] Current estimates place Los Zetas around 4000 members. Los Zetas' training locations have been identified as containing the same items and setup as GAFE training facilities, it is also further believed the group employs the same internal organizational structure.

Los Zetas are primarily based in the border region of Nuevo Laredo, with hundreds more throughout the country. In Nuevo Laredo it is believed they have carved the city into territories, placing lookouts at arrival destinations such as airports, bus stations and main roads.[3] In addition to conducting activities along the border, they are visible throughout the Gulf Coast region, in the Southern states of Tabasco, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas, and in the Pacific Coast states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán, as well as in Mexico City.[15] Evidence also indicates that they may be active in Texas, other U.S. states[16] and in Italy with the 'Ndrangheta.[7]

Some of the original members are:[17] Arturo Guzmán Decena, Rogelio González Pizaña, Heriberto Lazcano, Jaime González Durán, Efraín Teodoro Torres, Raúl Hernandez Barrón, Óscar Guerrero Silva, Luís Alberto Guerrero Reyes, Jesús Enrique Rejón, Mateo Díaz López, Jorge López, Daniel Peréz Rojas, Sergio Enrique Ruiz Tlapanco, Nabor Vargas García, Ernesto Zatarín Beliz, Eduardo Estrada González, Flavio Méndez Santiago, Prisciliano Ibarra Yepis, Rogelio Guerra Ramírez, Miguel Ángel Soto Parra, Galindo Mellado Cruz, Gonzalo Ceresano Escribano, Daniel Enrique Márquez Aguilar and Germán Torres Jiménez.

Over time, many of the original 31 have been killed or arrested, and a number of younger men have filled the vacuum, forming something that resembles what Los Zetas used to be, but still far from the efficiency of the original Zetas.[18]

Tactics

The group is extremely well armed, they wear body armor and some wear Kevlar ballistic helmets; their arsenal includes AR-15 and AK-47 rifles, MP5 submachine guns, 50 cal. machine guns, grenade launchers, surface-to-air missiles, dynamite and helicopters.[5] They are known to operate with modern wiretapping equipment. Los Zetas is known to operate with a higher tactical degree than the local authorities, often uniformed as Federal Preventive Police and driving similarly labeled vehicles. During one shootout against law enforcement the group employed grenade launchers and 50 cal. machine guns.[2] The group has been linked to monitoring and kidnapping of journalists, and the murder of rival cartel members and their families.[3] Los Zetas gang has been known to hire local gangs such as the Texas Syndicate and MS-13 to carry out contract killings.[3][19]

In addition of the commandos, there is a hierarchy within the group, composed of:

  • Los Halcones (The Hawks) keep watch over distribution zones and use 2 meter radio band.
  • Las Ventanas (The Windows) comprise bike-riding youngsters in their mid-teens who whistle to warn of the presence of police and other suspicious individuals near small stores that sell drugs.
  • Los Mañosos (The Tricky Ones) acquire arms.
  • Los Leopardos (Leopards) are prostitutes who slyly extract information from their clients.
  • Dirección (Command) are approximately 20 communications experts who intercept phone calls, follow and identify suspicious automobiles, and even accomplish kidnappings and executions.[5][20]

Los Zetas are involved in myriad criminal activities. They have branched out into kidnappings, murder-for-hire, extortion, money-laundering, human smuggling, and oil siphoning[21]. For security purposes, Los Zetas have adopted a cell-like structure to limit the information that any one member of the organization knows about his associates.

Law enforcement raids

Following a joint investigation, titled Operation Black Jack, by the ATF, DEA, ICE and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the FBI, two Zeta safe houses were identified and raided, recovering over 40 kidnapped individuals.[3]

On October 26, 2008, the Washington Times reported of an FBI warning that the Zetas' cell in Texas are to engage law enforcement with a full tactical response should law enforcement attempt to intervene in their operations;[22] their cell leader has been identified as Jaime González Durán (The Hummer), who was arrested on November 7, 2008 in the border city Reynosa, Tamaulipas.[23] In this operation, three safehouses in Reynosa were raided by elements of the Mexican Federal Police and Mexican Army, yielding the largest weapon seizure in the history of Mexico; it consisted in 540 assault rifles, 287 grenades, 2 M72 LAW rocket launchers, 500,000 rounds of ammunition, 67 ballistic vests and 14 sticks of TNT.[24][25]

In February 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced a program called "Operation Border Star Contingency Plan" to safeguard the border if Zetas carry out their threats to attack U.S. safety officers. This project includes the use of tanks, airplanes and the National Guard "as a preventive measure upon the possible collapse of the Mexican State" in order to protect the border from the attack of the Zetas and receive an eventual exodus of Mexicans fleeing from the violence.[26]

Cartel alliances

While in prison, the head of the Tijuana Cartel, Arellano Felix and Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cardenas, forged an alliance against the Sinaloa Cartel and its ally the Juarez Cartel. As a result, the cartels are now largely aligned into two blocs, some which support the Gulf Cartel and others which support the Sinaloa Cartel.[27] It is these two blocs that are involved in the massive and violent turf wars which are currently being carried out in northern Mexico.

La Familia Michoacana
The Sinaloa Cartel

The Sinaloa Cartel began to contest the Gulf Cartel’s domination of the coveted southwest Texas corridor following the arrest of Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cardenas in March 2003. The Federation is the result of a 2006 accord between several smaller drug cartels; it is led by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted drug trafficker.

The Juarez Cartel

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes heads the Juarez Cartel. The cartel had become factionalized between groups loyal to the Carrillo family and groups loyal to Guzman Loera's Sinaloa Federation.

The Tijuana Cartel

The cartel of the Arrellano-Felix family, the Tijuana Cartel was once among Mexico's most powerful but has fallen on hard times, thanks to the arrests of several top capos. The cartel entered into a brief partnership with the Gulf Cartel. It has been the frequent target of Mexican military confrontations and might be breaking into smaller groups.

The Gulf Cartel

The Gulf Cartel, based in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, has been one of Mexico's two dominant cartels in recent years. It is strengthened by its armed wing Los Zetas. The cartel leader Osiel Cardenas, was extradited to the U.S. in 2007 and is currently awaiting trial in Houston.

See also

References

  1. ^ Oscar Becerra, "New Traffickers Struggle for Control of Mexican Drug Trade," Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1, 2004.
  2. ^ a b c d Bunker, Robert (2005). Networks, Terrorism and Global Insurgency. Routledge. p. xv. ISBN 0-41534819-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Weak bilateral law enforcement presence at the U.S.Mexico border. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. 2005. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b c Texas Monthly On . . .: Texas True Crime. University of Texas Press. 2007. p. 44. ISBN 0-29271675-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Grayson, George. "Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel". U.S. Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  6. ^ Ware, Michael (August 6, 2009). "Los Zetas called Mexico's most dangerous drug cartel". CNN News. Retrieved 2009-08-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ a b Anderson, Curt. "talia - 'Violencia' se escribe con ZETA: Los zetas toman el control por la forza. Nicola Gratteri, zar antimafia de Reggio Calabria". Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  8. ^ Los Zetas: Evolution of a Criminal Organization - March 11, 2009
  9. ^ Thompson, Ginger (September 30, 2005). "Mexico Fears Its Drug Traffickers Get Help From Guatemalans". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  10. ^ Laurie Freeman, State of Siege: Drug-Related Violence and Corruption in Mexico, Washington Office on Latin America, June 2006
  11. ^ Rodríguez Martínez, Marco A. (2006). "El Poder de Los Zetas". Monografías. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  12. ^ Gómez, Francisco (Agosto 17 de 2008). "Los 'Zetas' por dentro; los entrenan en Coahuila" (in Spanish). Vanguardia. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Corchado, Alfredo (June 11, 2007). "Cartel's enforcers outpower their boss". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-04-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ a b Cook, Colleen W., ed. (October 16), "Mexico's Drug Cartels" (PDF), CRS Report for Congress, Congresional Research Service, p. 10, retrieved 2009-08-09 {{citation}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coeditors= and |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Alejandro Gutierrez, "Narcotráfico: El gran desafío de Calderón." Mexico City: Lilaneta, 2007, Chapters 1 and 5.
  16. ^ "Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel" (in Spanish). 2008-05-00. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  17. ^ Rodríguez Martínez, Marco A. El poder de los Zetas (in Spanish) Monografias. Accessed on: 2008-08-23.
  18. ^ The Evolution of 'Los Zetas,' a Mexican Crime Organization
  19. ^ Ruben Mosso, 'El MIlenio" “FBI: Los Zetas liroblema de seguridad nacional liara EU,” January 9, 2008
  20. ^ Alejandro Suverza, “Los Zetas, una liesadilla liara el cartel del Golfo,” El Universal, January 12, 2008, li. 1; and Martínez, “El lider de Los Zetas’.”
  21. ^ siphoning - Burnett, John, NPR (2009 10 2). "Mexico's Ferocious Zetas Cartel Reigns Through Fear". Retrieved 2009 10 2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Carter, Sara A. (October 26, 2008). "FBI warns of drug cartel arming". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2008-11-03. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ Roebuck, Jeremy (November 7, 2008). "Top Gulf Cartel leader arrested in Reynosa". The Monitor. Retrieved 2008-11-08. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "El Ejército decomisa el mayor arsenal hallado en la historia de México" (in Spanish). Union Radio. 07 de Noviembre de 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-08. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "Largest cartel weapons cache found in Mexico". Associated Press. November 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ Explorando Mexico Editorial Team. "The Zetas". Explorando Mexico. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  27. ^ "The Mexican Drug Cartels Update May 2008". The Right Side News. May 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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