The signature crimes of the most violent drug cartel in Mexico are its beheading and dismemberment of rival gang members, military personnel, law enforcement officers and public officials, and the random kidnappings and killings of civilians who get caught in its butchery and bloodletting.
But this disparate band of criminals known as Los Zetas is no longer just a concern in Mexico. It has expanded its deadly operations across the southwestern border, establishing footholds and alliances in states from New York to California. Just last year, federal agents tied a cocaine operation in Baltimore to the Zetas.
“Those of us who live and work along the border know they’re already here,” said Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., whose Texas county lies on the Rio Grande 50 miles southeast of the Zetas’ stronghold of Nuevo Laredo. “There’s already been killings and many residents here are living in fear.”
Sheriff Gonzalez, whose Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition sought help from the federal government to control growing violence along the border, said the rising brutality of Mexican drug gangs, particularly the Zetas, “never stops shocking me.”
Trained as an elite band of Mexican anti-drug commandos, the Zetas evolved into mercenaries for the infamous Gulf Cartel, bringing a new wave of brutality to Mexico’s escalating drug wars. Bolstered by an influx of assassins, bandits, thieves, thugs and corrupt federal, state and local police officers, the Zetas have since evolved into a well-financed and heavily armed drug smuggling force of their own.
Known for mounting the severed heads of their rivals on poles or hanging their dismembered bodies from bridges in cities throughout Mexico, the Zetas have easily become the most feared criminal gang in Mexico — where 35,000 people have been killed in a continuing drug war. Everyone is a potential victim: men, women and children.
“The Zetas are determined to gain the reputation of being the most sadistic, cruel and beastly organization that ever existed,” said George W. Grayson, professor of government at the College of William & Mary and an expert on Mexican drug gangs. “Many of Mexico’s existing drug cartels will kill their enemies, but not go out of their way to do it.
The Zetas look forward to inflicting fear on their targets.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
7 comments:
This is the only war we should be involved with. Mexico is filled with corruption . Our borders should be the #1 priority on the military agenda. But , as long as obamie is commander and chief , it won't happen. He is trying to flood the country with illegals to gain the vote in 2012. 7.62
This would be one of the main reasons that some of us are against illegal aliens. There's no way of checking their background if they're undocumented, & a lot turn out to be murderers & rapists if they're picked up. Hang on, 'cause this is undoubtedly only the beginning of the cartel problem. God knows how much goes on that we don't hear about!
they can come to Maryland and get drivers licences and discounted education:)
they can come to Maryland and get drivers licences and discounted education:)
1:04 PM
I wish someone in Maryland would get an education. Make some of these posts easier to read and understand. Just sayin
I believe Obama's middle name use to be Rodrigez but for political reasons they changed it, and for the Muslims overseas too.
I wonder if our government would be doing the same half-assed (& thats being generous) effort to control the border if it were Canadians crossing the northern border and killing Americans, kidnapping people, running guns and drugs and shooting police officers, or swarming across the border by the millions? And in the process of all that, demanding we give them citizenship, free medical care and schooling, and quit "discriminating" against them? Food for thought. From outer space.
Outer space is right. Outer limits as well. lol
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