Los Zetas: Mexico's Second Most Powerful Drug Cartel

Los Zetas directly translated to ¨ the Zs¨ also known as ¨los mata zatas¨ or the killer Zs were initially started in 1999 when the leader of the Gulf Cartel (Osiel Cardenal Guillen) asked Arturo Guzman Decenas; his bodyguard, to kill the recently appointed Godfather of his just baptized daughter. After killing the Godfather Guzman earned Guilless's trust and earned the title of ¨Z-1¨. Later starting what would be known as Los Zetas, they would help the Gulf Cartel grow and expand their drug business throughout the Mexican Gulf coast. Guillen ¨gained regional power and recognition in Mexico’s Tamaulipas State during the late 1990s, he became increasingly paranoid.¨(A Profile of Los Zetas: Mexico’s Second Most Powerful Drug Cartel, 2012)Guillen

Heriberto Lazcano was the overseer of new elite special forces recruitment coming from Guatemala, they are known as kaibiles. ¨He reached out to military contacts to establish clandestine recruitment channels; he increased the number of training camps in Tamaulipas, where new recruits learned the basics of small-unit tactics, firearms use, and communications; and he oversaw the development of a clandestine radio network.¨ (A Profile of Los Zetas: Mexico’s Second Most Powerful Drug Cartel, 2012) Lazcano expanded the revenue operations beyond extortion and eventually came to control drug trafficking waypoints known as plazas where lesser-known organizations pay for safe crossing. Starting as a group of deserters from an elite unit of the armed forces at the service of the Gulf Cartel, the Zetas go on to become one of the most powerful and feared cartels in

Luckily for them, Miguel Trevino morales the current leader of Los Zetas and the main reason the organization went into dealing cocaine owned the most valuable smuggling land in the Americas since Nuevo Laredo was a direct shot along I-35 to one of the hottest drug markets in the United States: Chicago city. The gang is known for not being forgiving and killing mercilessly if needed, many people in Mexico know of them and fear them for their incredibly fierce and graphic videos depicting various forms of murders and torture; released as warnings and threats according to NEXTLUXARY ¨Beheadings and torture are everyday occurrences for Los Zetas, who also have no guilt in killing innocent bystanders who get in their way. ¨. They usually engage in kidnappings, money laundering, drug and weapon trafficking, sex trade,