Los zetas gang signs. During their arrest, in the municipality of Cardenas, state of Tabasco, 73 high-powered weapons, 12 grenades, 2275 bullets and 2 kilos of cocaine were seized. Now, the group is a fragmented shadow of its former self. S. Los Zetas is infamous for its involvement in profitable illicit activities ranging from drugs, human, and firearms trafficking to oil theft, kidnapping, robbery, extortion Jan 9, 2023 · The group was initially formed to counter rivals like Los Zetas, as well as to safeguard Sinaloa's interests. In May 2002, El Chacho was kidnapped in the city of Monterrey by members of Los Zetas, and eventually found dead in Tamaulipas, bearing signs of torture. Los Zetas (pronounced [los ˈsetas], Spanish for "The Zs") was a Mexican criminal syndicate, known as one of the most dangerous of Mexico's drug cartels. This notorious gang comes from the same region where Oct 13, 2023 · Beginning as enforcers for the Gulf Cartel (Cartel del Golfo – CDG), the Zetas soon turned on their allies in the early 2000s and began expanding nationwide, with their iconography heavily inspired from their military roots. Jul 4, 2024 · Los Zetas - Los Zetas, once the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel, now stand as a dominant and terrifying force in Mexico's drug war. Feb 27, 2024 · 6. Much of the violence between Los Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel is the result of fighting over cocaine supplies from South America. He was 13 Mar 5, 2015 · Soldiers escorting five alleged members of the Zetas drug gang during their presentation to the press in Mexico City in 2011. : Z2), was captured in October 2004 and so Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano (a. ” Though Los Zetas have long been known for their Sep 13, 2021 · They were the victims of a brutal new evolution in Mexican cartel violence. labels Los Zetas as Mexico's most "sophisticated and dangerous cartel" Given six months of military training in Mexico, he was sent across the border to target rival drug gangs. Crip sign – A classic gesture involving the index finger and thumb forming a “C” shape is associated with the notorious Crips street gang. Los Zetas, Mexican crime syndicate formed in 1997 as the enforcement arm of the drug-trafficking Gulf Cartel; it broke away as an independent organized criminal enterprise in 2010. Signs & Symbols: "Z" Join Our Neighborhood Gang Watch : Emergencies - Call 911 Non-Emergency Contacts: Gang Member Facts. Around 2005, Treviño Morales became the regional boss of Nuevo Laredo; he was in charge of fighting off the incursions of the Sinaloa Cartel , which was attempting to take control of the smuggling routes in the area. Furthermore, Los Zetas have forged links with “La Familia” enforcer gangs in Michoacán, the venue for cocaine imports and methamphetamine laboratories, which regularly crosses swords with the Sinaloa Cartel and its allies. . [11] Apr 9, 2020 · Los Zetas, originally founded by Mexican special forces deserters, some with US training, started as the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel, a crime group from northeastern Mexico, before breaking Gang Profile - Los Zetas. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] They are known for engaging in brutally violent "shock and awe" tactics such as beheadings, torture, and indiscriminate murder. On the … Continued Apr 24, 2023 · The massacre was part of the Zetas battle with the Gulf Cartel — the Zetas’ former employers — for control of Guatemala’s drug trafficking routes. But there were early signs that the Zetas were not a run-of-the-mill outfit of toughs. True Crime The Cartel Next Door When a powerful member of a notorious drug cartel was gunned down in broad daylight in a wealthy Dallas suburb, locals were shocked by the brazenness of the crime. 40 and 42 used to pass through there every day. It is identified by the red color worn by its members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs. a. Oct 13, 2017 · Mexico’s cartels have long deployed teams of shock troops willing to engage in all manner of brutality to further the collective cause. Instead, the gang took over the dirty business of coal mining. Aug 6, 2009 · U. Website created to educate the public about violent criminal gangs in the Houston area and report gang related tips. Los Zetas (pronounced [los ˈsetas], Spanish for "The Zs") was a Mexican criminal syndicate, known as one of the most dangerous of Mexico's drug cartels. Oct 10, 2012 · MEXICO CITY — It seemed such a triumphant moment in the drug war: the leader of the Zetas, one of the country’s biggest and most ruthless gangs, killed by the celebrated Mexican Marines in a Jun 2, 2016 · The hitman talked about the Zetas’ relationship with local politicians in the state of Veracruz, the cartel’s wars with rivals, and the toll his “work” has taken on his personal life. The Mexican cartel has also staked out a claim on the drug trade in Guatemala, where it has committed similar atrocities and fought similar battles with law enforcement as the ones waged in Mexico. Feb 3, 2011 · Notable incidents allegedly tied to Los Zetas include the December 2008 execution of Mexican soldiers in Guerrero, a “violence-torn, impoverished southern state where a ‘dual sovereignty’ exists between the elected government and narco-criminals;"4 the February 2009 assassination of retired Brigadier Mauro Enrique Tello Quinones to ward Analyzing extreme violence by Los Zetas This article examines extreme executions by Los Zetas, a paramilitary OCG that emerged in Mexico at the end of the 20th century. Barrio Azteca also works with the Zetas. IE 11 is not supported. The Zetas soon began to challenge the cartel’s leadership itself. But even if the group falls apart, its extraordinarily violent -- and spectacularly successful -- methods are here to stay. ” The Zetas were originally formed in the late 1990s by deserters from the Mexican special forces who were hired as enforcers for the Gulf Cartel. Alexandre Meneghini/AP Los Zetas Drug Trafficking Organization. As the violence between the cartels and the Mexican government increased, so did the power of the Zetas within the The most notable were the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes "El Mencho" (who suspected the Sinaloa cartel had betrayed its leaders ) [68] [69] [70] and La Resistencia headed by Ramiro Pozos "El Molca" who switched alliances to form a brief alliance with Los Zetas (La Resistencia was founded by Sinaloa to Jan 25, 2012 · Stratfor says the Zetas' brutal violence seems to have given the gang an advantage over the Sinaloa cartel, which prefers to bribe people. DEA's most wanted with a $10 million reward for his capture. The Bloods are a primarily African-American street gang which was founded in Los Angeles, California. The Zetas were notorious for their brutality, even by cartel standards. In the early 2000s, this organization dominated Mexico's landscape as they fought the government and other cartels in bloody turf wars for control of Mexico’s extremely lucrative trafficking routes into the United States and Europe. Originally, the gang was set up to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the Los Angeles area. Mar 18, 2023 · Among a crowded field of brutal drug cartels that dominate Mexico's lucrative drug trade, there are few that are more fearsome than Los Zetas. [22] Jul 30, 2016 · In 2010, Los Zetas split from the Gulf Cartel, sparking one the most violent periods in Mexico’s drug war. Aug 22, 2023 · Historically tracing back to the late 19th century in America during the emergence of criminal subcultures in impoverished neighborhoods and ethnic enclaves like Chicago or Los Angeles, gang signs began as means for secretive communication among individuals involved in illicit activities. Essentially enforcers turned multipurpose cartel, they are waging a brutal war against competing cartels and the Mexican state alike. The number "14" may possibly refer to Z-14, a deceased commander of Los Zetas named Efraín Teodoro Torres, or to the fourteen original founders. Sep 14, 2023 · Here are some commonly seen hand signs used by gangs: 1. The second-in-command in Los Zetas, Rogelio González Pizaña (a. Jul 17, 2013 · The capture Monday of Los Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales may have dealt a major blow to the Mexican drug cartel, but experts say the take down won't lead to a decline in gang violence Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. Los Zetas ushered in a new era of cartel behavior marked by extreme brutality, which became the group’s calling card. Nov 3, 2010 · Founders of the Zetas drug gang learned special forces techniques at Ft. The Zetas’ recruitment of ex-military personnel initially made them a highly militarized and disciplined organization. The White House branded it “a unique and extraordinary threat to the stability of international economies and political systems. But the cartel wasn’t there to expand its drug or prostitution rings. Members of this gang also maintain relationships with Los Zetas, a Mexican paramilitary/criminal organization. Much of this information is traced to a Procuraduria General de La Republica (PGR) report that was obtained by a writer who published a synopsis in El Universal . Fighting for supremacy with rival gangs — including the Gulf Cartel and the Sinaloa gang — Los Zetas became responsible for turning much of Mexico into a battleground. This relationship, however, is generally misunderstood. [20] On the supply side, the increased pressures on Sinaloa kingpin Joaquín Guzmán Loera, whose operations in Colombia in 2012 prompted his organization to grab larger shares of cocaine from Peru and Ecuador, threatened the supply-lines of Los Zetas, and triggered A fracturing of Los Zetas could force a violent realignment of Mexico’s drug-trafficking gangs and would probably create challenges for President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto, who promised to bring Feb 5, 2013 · Mexican authorities arrested one high priest, Romo Guillén, on kidnapping charges in December 2010. Initial reports attributed the attack to the Gulf Cartel and other drug gangs united against Los Zetas; however, authorities concluded that the violence was a factional feud within Los Zetas. During that same year, the Mexican army destroyed numerous Santa Muerte shrines. Jun 14, 2011 · Prefacing a Senate call to reduce arms trafficking to Mexico by a few hours, the Houston Chronicle's Dane Schiller described the chilling account of a member of the Zetas cartel who asked only to Jul 9, 2018 · The gang’s key ally is the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Linea. The Counter Terrorist by Security Solutions International Staff 11/24/2010 Los Zetas: Massacres, Assassinations and Infantry Tactics One of Mexico's most ruthless, tactically proficient criminal gangs has spread from an original 31 mercenaries into a sizable private army and criminal enterprise By John P. Since 2007, 47,500 people have died in drug-related Aug 22, 2024 · In 2013, Mexican Marines apprehended Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, the alleged cartel leader of Los Zetas. On one side, the partnership is portrayed as a literal merger of MS-13 and Zetas—an obvious exaggeration of the situation. Jun 2, 2016 · The hitman talked about the Zetas’ relationship with local politicians in the state of Veracruz, the cartel’s wars with rivals, and the toll his “work” has taken on his personal life. The Zetas seemed like yet another permutation of what had become a standard feature of the Mexican underworld. The winners got to become Zetas recruits, while the losers got Dec 13, 2020 · Brigades searched mile after mile of barren scrubland for signs of him. Lawson and his team captured José Treviño, a key player in the illegal scheme. Aug 8, 2011 · They are widely considered the most brutal of the gangs operating in Mexico, with wanton bloodshed and needless killings –such as the massacres of migrants in Tamaulipas — turning into their trademark. Recognizing the partnership between the transnational drug trafficking organization Los Zetas and the drug gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is critically important to the security of the Americas. Prospects. Apr 24, 2023 · The report “Structure of a Transnational Criminal Network: ‘Los Zetas’ and the Smuggling of Hydrocarbons,” published by Colombia’s Vortex Foundation, turns the spotlight on the Zetas, the Gulf Cartel, and the Familia Michoacana, as well as the “nodes” that support them. InSight Crime looks at what happened, and what's next for the once-powerful cartel. Put in pairs and given sledgehammers, they were forced to fight each other. Drug enforcement agencies want to May 12, 2015 · Members traffic multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; multi-ton quantities of marijuana; and thousand-tablet quantities of ecstasy from Mexico into the U. Jul 16, 2013 · “Los Zetas is a powerful brand,” Hope said. ” Los Zetas is truly a menace. In 2010, the authorities found 72 migrants dead in San Fernando, Tamaulipas. k. If Los Zetas breaks apart, Mexico's drug-related violence may get worse but signs of the apparent split have come in Los Zetas (pronounced [los ˈsetas], Spanish for "The Zs") was a Mexican criminal syndicate, known as one of the most dangerous of Mexico's drug cartels. They would rape and kill the women and offer men a macabre choice. The group was known for its violent tactics and tight organizational Apr 6, 2018 · The Zetas were once Mexico’s most feared and violent organized crime threat. [2] Oct 24, 2019 · It was a sign the group remains an immensely powerful force. The Zetas were further undermined by a steady series of high-profile blows to their leadership, the most serious of which was the loss of Lazcano, who was killed in October 2012. There are many examples of this, most prominently including: Los Zetas were notorious for mass killings such as the 2010 San Fernando Massacre where 72 migrants were found dead in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Los Zetas : The Gang Threat : The Current Apr 17, 2024 · Hallmarks of Los Zetas . Feb 4, 2012 · The hyper-violent gang has never built up the social ties cultivated by other Mexican drug cartels, which act as benefactors to the poor and receive safe haven in exchange. Mar 12, 2010 · Recent works on the history of Los Zetas include: Citation Grayson, ‘Los Zetas’; Citation Southern Pulse, ‘Inside Los Zetas’; and Citation Logan, ‘Los Zetas’. Dec 31, 2014 · This happened at the height of the Zetas’ war against the Gulf Cartel over control of Mexico’s north-east border cities — a war that demanded that the Zetas have access to liquid assets. 7 In 2009 he called for holy war against the Catholic Church. The were named as the country's biggest drug gang, overtaking their bitter Sep 13, 2021 · According to court testimony, from 2007 through 2011, Chavarria oversaw the shipment of enormous quantities of cocaine between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas on behalf of the Los Zetas Cartel, in which he was a high-ranking member. By Chris Arsenault Published On 3 Nov 2010 3 Nov 2010 When he joined the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, Los Tejas, the local gang he once worked for, was absorbed by the former groups. Mar 29, 2021 · In this paper, I will examine the leadership and economic reward structure of Los Zetas. However, the investigation revealed connections to […] Sep 4, 2010 · The gang was called Los Zetas after the Mexican word for the letter 'z', as this was the radio call sign of one of their first leaders, former Mexican Special Forces Lieutenant Arturo Guzman Decena. Also known as “Z-40,” Morales reportedly executed perceived enemies of the cartel using the method of “The Stew,” or El Guiso. Los Zetas had begun to hijack buses along Federal Highway 101. Bloods sign – The counterpart of their rival, this sign showcases two fingers extended together (the middle and ring finger) pointing Jan 8, 2013 · The Los Zetas drug cartel is arguably Mexico's most violent and most feared gang. " [68] Los Zetas var ett mexikanskt brottssyndikat som utförde olika sorters brott som attentat, kidnappningar, koppleri, korruption, mord, narkotikasmuggling, organhandel, Jul 31, 2024 · Apple TV+’s ‘Cowboy Cartel’ explores the leadership and dedication of Scott Lawson, an FBU recruit based in Laredo, Texas, as he works to dismantle the Los Zetas money laundering operation tied to quarter horse racing. The investigation revealed Los Zetas had expanded their control of the drug trade to Central and South America. Jul 24, 2024 · Members of drug gang “Los Zetas” Margarito Mendoza (R) and Carmen Zuniga (L) are shown to the press in Mexico City on October 22, 2010. 2 days ago · Inside Mexican/American gunrunning networks 03:12. [ 11 ] [ 13 ] El Barbas then asked Osiel if Edgar Valdez Villarreal ( La Barbie ) could replace El Chacho , and he accepted. Jul 16, 2013 · (MORE: Mexico’s Drug Lords Now Have RPGs) A 2007 trial into the execution-style murder of five men in East Texas exposed the breadth of the Zetas’ reach. The gang’s control over Juárez puts it in a position to move into major transnational drug trafficking. Los Zetas organization was established in the late 1990s as the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel drug trafficking organization to protect and expand the Apr 11, 2016 · “The Evolution of Los Zetas” shows how the cartel has transformed itself from ragtag bandits into a cash-flush, heinous crime syndicate. [66] There are around 500 small gangs working for the Barrio Azteca and looking to earn a position by "joining the big shots. Bragg before waging a campaign of carnage. 2. At the time, they were a Mexican-based drug cartel in control of much of the Mexico/U. Founded by individuals including Erick Valencia Salazar ("El 85"), the group is currently led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," who is currently one of the U. Aug 23, 2012 · Factional fighting breaks out in Los Zetas, Mexico's largest crime gang. Individuals in his gang posed as members of the Los Zetas Cartel. Mexican drug kingpin Osiel Cardenas Guillen, former leader of the notorious Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas criminal gang, was released Friday from a U May 14, 2017 · "Not the Army, not the Marines nor the security and anti-drug agencies of the United States government can resist us. Feb 3, 2011 · Los Zetas are arguably Mexico’s most ruthless and tactically proficient criminal gang. A series of arrests, where Mexican military patrols were able to capture high-ranking Los Zetas operators, has been considered the initial signs of Trevino leaking information on The Executioner’s men in an attempt to weaken Heriberto Lazcano’s power within the organization. Mexico lives and will continue under the regime of Los Zetas. border to include the Texas corridor. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. A principal enemy is the Sinaloa Cartel, along with its subcontractor, the Mexicles gang. They would leave his gates open, so his cattle would escape. Authorities believe Morales is responsible for at least 72 slayings in the 2010 San Fernando massacre. His mother, Anabel Garza, charismatic and fearless, The Zetas, once an armed wing of the Gulf Cartel, had been warring Jun 30, 2022 · The void was filled by the Zetas, whose power within the organization grew more and more, even as other leaders took up control of the Gulf Cartel itself. “It is identified with extreme violence. Given that a stable underworld equilibrium is a prerequisite for a safer Mexico, the gang that most frequently challenges the status quo is the first that Website created to educate the public about violent criminal gangs in the Houston area and report gang related tips. The Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) Los Zetas Cartel. It is identified with a complete absence of scruples. The 2011 San Fernando massacre, also known as the second massacre of San Fernando, [1] was the mass murder of 193 people by Los Zetas drug cartel at La Joya ranch in the municipality of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in March 2011. Los Zetas has also committed numerous massacres and attacks on civilians and other gangs, including: 6. He Sep 29, 2011 · With this in mind, there are three very direct ways of understanding this video: 1) The Mata Zetas organization is part of the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel posing as an independent vigilante group; 2) The Mata Zetas are a group of foreign mercenaries operating on Mexican soil to eliminate the sworn enemy of the Sinaloa Cartel, which seems Aug 8, 2011 · According to this logic, which paints the Zetas as Hitler to everyone else’s Stalin, the Zetas are the top priority because they destabilize the industry in ways that other gangs do not. In his testimony, the witness tells how the Aug 5, 2013 · Los Zetas, Mexico's most notorious drug gang, suffered a major blow with the recent arrest of its leader. [66] They had a membership of 2,000 strong in Ciudad Juárez alone that year. Recently, they took over the country's Coahuila region in the north, which shares a border with Texas. InSight Crime Analysis. Aug 22, 2024 · Mexico convicts 11 cartel gunmen in killings of 122 bus passengers near US border over 2 years. Instead its killers Sep 21, 2023 · In 2012, law enforcement began an investigation into the illegal drug trafficking activities of the Los Zetas. 1 The 2010 San Fernando massacre . 0 Notable Activity of Los Zetas. Nov 29, 2021 · "The pioneers in hanging bodies were the Zetas cartel during the war against the Sinaloa Cartel in Coahuila and Tamaulipas states around the '90s," said David Saucedo, a Mexico-based security analyst. Los Negros ('The Black Ones') was a criminal organization that was once the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel and after a switch of alliances, became the armed wing of the Sinaloa splinter gang, the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel. (Photo Dallas News) Tangos/Tango Blast In March 2010, the FBI and the police department in El Paso stated that Barrio Azteca was more powerful than Los Zetas in the Juárez plaza. Nov 16, 2022 · PLANO, Texas– Two Los Zetas Cartel leaders has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U. Sullivan and Samuel Logan Los Zetas are Oct 1, 2021 · “I thought Los Zetas were going to kill me," said a migrant, as criminal groups have taken over migration routes and even interrogate children to extort migrant families. Jun 12, 2017 · The Zetas killed Piña because his ranch was set on the Río Bravo [Rio Grande]. Los Zetas may number between 100 and 200 men and women, most of whom are believed to be in their early- to mid-twenties. 6 days ago · The brothers would eventually split into rival factions — the Northeast Cartel (Cartel del Noreste) and the Old School Zetas (Los Zetas Vieja Escuela). : Z3) ascended to the leadership of the paramilitary gang, and who will become the infamous ruthless leader of the, now independent, Zetas Drug Cartel. Known for their military precision and unsparing violence, they represent a new, formidable era of organized crime . Attorney Brit Featherston today. miffpkbhftycirccyekyglmqrxqildqmmfswromtdhxwnrezfuhuxxhwh