The Gulf's cocaine business started when they brokered a deal with the Cali cartel, which was looking for new routes from Colombia to the United States. Based in northwest Mexico's Sinaloa state, the Sinaloa Cartel is widely considered to be the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, according to Insight Crime. As La Familia Michoacana expelled Los Zetas, they took territory across Guerrero, Morelos, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Jalisco and Mexico City. While the Gulf cartel remains a danger to society, their influence has been diminished by Los Zetas, their wayward spawn. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia, The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Only in 2014 was this dynamic officially exposed in a memo from the Mexico Attorney Generals Office on the 2010 San Fernando Massacre, the 2011 San Fernando Massacre, and the recovery of 49 human torsos in 2012. The cartel can trace its roots to the 1960s and '70s, when farming families entered the marijuana business. [6] Mexican drug cartels are currently operating in 47 countries around the world, including Colombia, Guatemala, and others. The gang often kidnaps and holds poor migrants who try to operate outside the system for ransom. These cases have highlighted the growing interest of Mexican cartels in influencing politics.[5]. However, despite its success in cocaine and methamphetamine, La Familia Michoacana's power was curtailed by yet another splinter group, The Knights Templar. However, according to Insight Crime's profile, the cartel's influence has been compromised by arrests and infighting, limiting their territory to Tijuana, a vital smuggling city on the US-Mexico border. Thank you. "The first time [I was kidnapped], they took me with a group of about seven people. Officials exhuming the bodies noticed that many bore the marks of blunt trauma. When Osiel Cardenas Guillen took over as the leader of the Gulf Cartel, it was in the midst of a violent turf war. Los Zetas control a wide swathe of territory ranging from the Texas border to Guatemala. The macabre bloodsport was detailed in The Houston Chronicle. However, the Gulf remains entrenched in theirTamaulipas stronghold, which provides steady revenue from narcotics and migrant smuggling (via Insight Crime). [10] The authorities havent succeeded in shutting down the cartels sophisticated radio communication due to two reasons: The first is that the radio equipment is easy to replace; the second is that the gang relies on free forced labor to build and maintain its radio equipment. In early April, Mexican military officials made another grisly discovery in the once sleepy farming community of San Fernando: a series of mass graves among the mesquite brush. In this pivotal year, Zetas occupied territory in 405 Mexican municipalities, which Insight Crime found was more than double that of their biggest rivals. During his peak in the mid-1980s, Escobar established a debt collection service called "Oficina de Envigado," which was based in the town hall of Envigado. They ordered the informant be killed along with anyone and everyone associated with him. Millan-Vasquez was found guilty last July of murder, violence, drug and weapons trafficking, and employing minors in a drug crime a total of 10 counts. It would occur to many as an unacceptable surprise that Los Zetas recruits members in the United States. Then, on April 21, 2011, police arrested San Fernandos police chief and got a little closer to the truth. WebIn August 2011, armed men affiliated with the Zetas cartel set fire to a casino in the Mexican city of Monterrey, killing 52 people. He was recruited to Los Zetas, where he rose to commander. Border / Cartel ChroniclesBreitbart TexasCartel ChroniclesCartel ViolenceCDNCiudad VictoriaGrupo BravoLos ZetasVieja Escuela. It was found in Webb County, near the border city of Laredo. The rest of the video is a gruesome 40 seconds of cold-blooded murder, which caused international controversy recently when it was posted on Facebook. Instead, they became the drug cartel they were supposed to fight. He was told to contact someone in Los Zetas to see if they had information. The FBI and the IRS eventually built a case against Morales and others, leading to his arrest. He claimed that he was blindfolded, handcuffed, driven to random locations around Piedras Negras, stripped of the blindfold, and forced to kneel and watch these brutal murders. Subscribe to Heres the Deal, our politics This wasnt the first time such a tragedy had visited San Fernando. Even the Sinaloas are now decapitating people, he said. Partners must notify. So how does Morales, who came into power just last year after his predecessor was shot and killed by authorities and his Los Zetas fit into the underworld that is Mexican cartels? According to World Atlas, Tijuana had the highest homicide rate in the world in 2020, with 138 murder per 100,000 residents. After the group's 1985 murder of DEA agentEnrique Camarena, the US and Mexico closed in on the cartel, causing several leaders to disperse across Mexico, leaving El Chapo and his partnerHctor Luis Palma Salazar as the Sinaloa chiefs. It was a solid lead, as cartels were known to take over ranches and convert them into makeshift jails or execution chambers. Los Zetas is a criminal gang that manufactures and smuggles illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana, among others. SAN ANTONIO -- A father whose son went missing in 2011 took the stand Wednesday in the federal trial of an alleged war commander for Los Zetas drug cartel. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? A rival of the Sinaloa cartel, the Juarez group has been responsible for thousands of murders across its territory, which included 21 states at the height of its power. It operates in more than half of the countrys 32 states. There are a handful of drug cartels in Mexico, most of which run almost like corporations. The most dramatic episode of the weekend carnage took place on Saturday morning when gunmen with one faction of the Los Zetas cartel known as the Cartel Del Noreste burst into a home in order to murder four children, five women and two men. Los Zetass status as the largest drug cartel in Mexico carries additional implications. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin, Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. The two men who were also gunned down have been identified as Cruz Felipe Pizana Saldivar and Angel Carrizales Amaya. Most harrowing of all was the forensic evidence. If their relatives do not pay for their release, they may be killed and dumped into mass graves. All Rights Reserved. In August 2010, Zetas executed 72 migrants in Tamaulipas, which was followed by 2011 attacks in San Fernando and a Monterrey casino, killing a combined 245 people. He said that officers escorted him to remote locations to deliver guns to Millan-Vasquez on more than one occasion. This gang violence occurs in their stronghold of Ciudad Jurez, where 1,200 people were murdered in 2018. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes, A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India, The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution, A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors, State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya, A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California, Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. In 2015, U.S. law enforcement discovered a marijuana field in Texas with a market value of $2 million. The fledgling cartel were trained by members of Los Zetas, yet they would turn on their mentors because of local resentment to Zetas' methamphetamine business. There were only a few bullet casings at the scene, but one sledgehammer and bodies showing blunt trauma to the head. Rather than prioritizing corruption like its competitors, Los Zetas has Human smugglers often use buses to transport migrants north to the Texas-Mexico border. As the cartel made connections across Mexico and the world, their death toll increased exponentially. Consequently, several Mexican cities such as Los Cabos, Tijuana, and Acapulco have recorded some of the highest murder rates in the world, according toStatista. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy, Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq, A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France, A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. In April 2019, CJNG killed 14 people in Minatitlan, a Zetas territory. No one charges under $2,000 these days to get into the United States and [the Zetas] get $400 to $500 for each migrant smuggled through their territory, he says. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. When it was Top 10 Dark Facts About The Death Penalty [DISTURBING], Top 10 Truly Disturbing Facts About Japan's Suicide Forest, Top 10 Disturbing Facts About The Unabomber, Top 10 Disturbing Facts About Sid & Nancy's Doomed, Top 10 Disturbing Facts About the "Night Stalker", Top 10 Iconic Fever Dreams Set In Los Angeles, Top 10 Murder Houses In Los Angeles And Their, 10 Controversial Toys You Might Already Have in Your Home, Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes, 10 Female Film Pioneers Who Shaped the Movies, Ten True Tales from Americas Toughest Prison, 10 Times Members of Secretive Societies and Organizations Spilled the Beans, 10 Common Idioms with Unexpectedly Dark Origins, 10 North American Animals with Misplaced Reputations, 10 Atrocities Committed By Mexican Drug Cartels, 10 Heinous Cases Of Misconduct By Crime Investigators, 10 Ruthless Gangs Who Dared to Stand Up to the Mafia, 10 Horrifying Facts About The Brabant Killers, 10 Disturbing True Crime Documentaries You Can Only Watch Once, 10 Tragic Cases Of Children Murdered By Social Workers. Whatever the motivations, the mass killings show just how little control the federal government exerts over Tamaulipas. The fact that Los Zetas and other Mexican gangs sponsor politicians in Mexico is a huge problem. The LA Times found that from January 1988 to November 1991, drug traffickers killed up to 219 people in this area, disposing of their bodies in rivers. However, despite these smaller groups' threat to the Guerrero and Morelosstates, the Beltrn-Leyva Organization is merely a trace of its former self. In 2010, Los Zetas established itself on its own terms, terrorizing the country with torture, beheadings and massacres (via Irish Times/Britannica). The violence has ebbed and flowed since that decade, including a shootout with Mexican police in 2008 which led to the arrest of Eduardo Arellano Felix (via Reuters). Not only are groups like Los Zetas interested in influencing politics, but Mexican politicians are equally interested in the dividends of the drug trade. WebLos Zetas is a powerful Mexican drug cartel that has made special use of fear to achieve its business goals. They were given map reading courses, communications, and standard Special Forces training and instruction on how to use light and heavy weapons, machine guns, and several other automatic weapons. Among these provincial traders and smugglers wasJoaqun Guzmn Loera, better known as "El Chapo.". Like Los Zetas, their bitter rivals, CJNG is known for terrible violence. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Justicedefines cartels as, "large, highly sophisticated organizations composed of multiple drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)and cells with specific assignments such as drug transportation, security/enforcement, or money laundering.". 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. Cartels have dominated the international drugs trade since the 1980s, earning many billions of dollars and killing tens of thousands of people in Mexico and Colombia alone (via Al Jazeera and Britannica). Imagine how tragic it would be for such a respected and honored organization to become an evil one like Los Zetas. Morales liked to betand bet bigon the horses. This was back when Lazcano and Z-40 were still running the Los Zetas cartel. He also forced captured Mexican migrants into gladiatorial fights to the death. De Leon said that his two superiors were let go after they paid, but that he didn't have the $100,000 the cartel needed. The cartel member he spoke with was Jose Luis Rodriguez. WebAlso dumbass the bitch on the far right was white "la cholla" or something she was called and she is was brutal as fuck. Los Zetas is a powerful Mexican drug cartel that has made special use of fear to achieve its business goals. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. (Watch our piece Mexican Marines Kill Drug Lord Known as The Executioner.). At times [he inflicted] the cruellest of pain, forcing relatives to watch their loved ones murdered before he turned his blades on them, said Mr Durbin. Miguel Angel Trevino Morales (aka Comandante 40) Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty ImagesSan Fernando woman Alma Miriam Ruiz holding a photo of her daughter Dalia missing since 2010. De Leon said that during his captivity, he witnessed Zetas commanders dismember people while they were still alive and throw the body parts into a flaming barrel. Velazquez started out stealing cars in his hometown of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and was jailed there. In 2017, the Mexican government extradited Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn, a You name it, the Zetas did it.. If Mexican governors have been indicted as Los Zetas collaborators, then there is a possibility that one day, the criminal organization could produce a governor from its ranks. WebCartel Del Golfo interrogation 4 Zetas these bastards have admitted to raping women,killing women, killing kids. [7] As usual, theyve also brought an unprecedented level of violence to the trade. WebLos 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 Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. In the human smuggling business, migrants pay $100 to $200 upfront, then pay the rest once theyve reached the United States. As the two factions continue their fierce fighting, gunmen from the two groups have taken to social media and banners to deliver threats to each other. The kidnapping and murder of the SEIDO agents resembles the type of actions of another infamous Mexican crime group, the Zetas. Site made in collaboration with CMYK. De Leon said that he didn't voluntarily start working with the cartel; he was kidnapped and forced to participate. Gary Green and Arthur Brown Jr. are set to be killed next week by the State of Texas. The memo indicated that local police acted as lookouts and helped in the interceptions of persons across all cases. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. He claimed that the drugs came from the Zetas "comandantes" or commanders, which included Millan-Vasquez. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The group was originally made up of 34 Mexican Special Forces soldiers. WebCartel: Los Zetas Killed: Oct. 7, 2012 Lazcano was the leader of the Los Zetas cartel. In this ghastly murder, the CDN faction appears to have struck first murdering the relatives of a state police officer and a farmers union leader. The U.S. State Department issued warnings not to travel to or within Tamaulipas, as a result. The cartels brutal murders came to a head under the leadership of Miguel Angel Trevino Morales. When prosecutors asked De Leon if "Chano" was in the courtroom, the witness stood up and scanned the courtroom for close to three minutes, before pointing at Millan-Vasquez. In August 2010, the gang massacred 72 kidnapped migrants at a remote ranch in Northeastern Mexico after they refused to pay a ransom for their release or take jobs as hit men. The traditional cartels buy off politicians, establish traffic routes for smuggling and make money. Instead, they were raped and beaten to death or vanished into a new life as cartel soldiers. This time around, the horrific body count eclipsed all expectations with 193 people rotting in 47 mass graves. Escobar's luck ran out on December 2, 1993, when he was gunned down as part of a joint U.S.-Colombia effort. Jalisco New Generation, often referred to as CJNG, is another Mexican cartel that emerged in 2010. De Leon is now cooperating with authorities. A significant part of this bloodshed is caused by the Tijuana cartel, which is in constant conflict with the Sinaloa cartel. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); At this juncture, it is safe and reasonable to conclude that Los Zetas is one of the biggest headaches of the American people. All rights reserved. Los Zetas is the largest drug cartel in Mexico in terms of scale of operations. The two claimed credible fear, telling agents that they feared for their lives if they were to stay in Mexico. They kidnapped a local farmers son and demanded $10,000, and when he gave them $5,000 everything he had they sent him half of his son.. Former governor Humberto Moreira was also singled out by former Mexican President Felipe Calderon has having protected Los Zetas in his state. He holds dual bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a master's degree from New York University. During their enforcer period, theUS Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA) described Los Zetas as perhaps "the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and violent of these paramilitary enforcement groups.". The two cartels enjoyed over a decade of business until the late 1990s, when the Gulf cartel had become self-sufficient. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. Its origins are traced toEl Milenio, a group that was allied to the Tijuana cartel. Picture taken from a TV screen showing Miguel Angel Trevino Morales by Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images. Their wanton murders leave most civilians in silence. With that grim context in mind, here are the most dangerous cartels to ever exist. The heartless drug lord is claimed to have personally killed 2,000 people, in addition to ordering and supervising thousands of other murders. Jair Cabrera/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesTributes to the 2011 San Fernando Massacre. When prosecutors asked if De Leon feared police while en route to deliver firearms to "Chano," he said that he wasn't worried because the majority of police were bought out. This savagery is nothing new. Officials are still counting the dead, but, as of this writing, the bodies numbered nearly 200. It had only been a year since officials in the Mexican city found 72 victims of the Los Zetas drug cartel buried in the dirt. In 2006, severalLa Familia hit men, who said they had a "divine right" to kill, dumped five severed heads on a dance floor, yet this didn't alienate them in the public eye (via Insider/Insight Crime). But Los Zetas stands out. WebFrom March 24 to March 29, 2011, the Los Zetas drug cartel viciously slaughtered nearly 200 Central American migrants in Tamaulipas, Mexico.