Organized Crime: The Los Zetas (8/14/24)

The Epstein Chronicles

Los Zetas were a highly feared and brutal Mexican criminal organization that originated in the late 1990s. Initially formed as the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel, they were composed of elite former soldiers from Mexico's special forces unit, the Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFE). These ex-military operatives brought advanced military tactics, discipline, and extreme violence to the cartel's operations, which included drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and more.
Los Zetas quickly grew in power and influence, eventually breaking away from the Gulf Cartel in 2010 to form their own independent cartel. They became notorious for their ruthlessness, using terror and extreme violence, such as beheadings and mass killings, to control territories and intimidate rivals, law enforcement, and civilians alike.
Over time, internal power struggles, leadership losses, and pressure from law enforcement led to the fragmentation of Los Zetas into smaller factions. While their influence has diminished, the legacy of their brutality and the impact they had on the Mexican drug war continues to be felt today.
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