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Mexico Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino captured | Mexico Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino captured |
(about 1 month later) | |
Mexican marines have captured one of the world's most notorious drug-gang leaders in a raid near the US border. | Mexican marines have captured one of the world's most notorious drug-gang leaders in a raid near the US border. |
Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, 40, head of the Zetas Cartel, was intercepted with two lieutenants in a pick-up truck near Nuevo Laredo. | |
Mexican officials said he had eight guns and $2m (£1.3m) in cash. | Mexican officials said he had eight guns and $2m (£1.3m) in cash. |
Trevino Morales, infamous for his brutality, was wanted on both sides of the border for ordering massacres and running drugs on a global scale. | Trevino Morales, infamous for his brutality, was wanted on both sides of the border for ordering massacres and running drugs on a global scale. |
He took control of the Zetas following the death of group founder Heriberto Lazcano in October 2012. | He took control of the Zetas following the death of group founder Heriberto Lazcano in October 2012. |
His is the highest-profile arrest since President Enrique Pena Nieto came to office last December. | His is the highest-profile arrest since President Enrique Pena Nieto came to office last December. |
Mr Pena Nieto promised to change the policy of the previous government by tackling cartels through law enforcement on a local level rather than the capture of big-name targets. | Mr Pena Nieto promised to change the policy of the previous government by tackling cartels through law enforcement on a local level rather than the capture of big-name targets. |
Ex-President Felipe Calderon had deployed the army across the country and pursued cartel leaders. | Ex-President Felipe Calderon had deployed the army across the country and pursued cartel leaders. |
Although the policy eliminated many senior criminal figures, it also created power vacuums that helped fuel the violence. | Although the policy eliminated many senior criminal figures, it also created power vacuums that helped fuel the violence. |
Fall of the Zetas | Fall of the Zetas |
Trevino Morales, known as "Zeta-40", was captured outside Nuevo Laredo, near the US border at dawn on Monday, government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez told a news conference. | Trevino Morales, known as "Zeta-40", was captured outside Nuevo Laredo, near the US border at dawn on Monday, government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez told a news conference. |
"Three people in the truck were detained by ground troops, who had arrived to support the naval forces, who had carried out the detention via the helicopter. Not a single shot was fired," he said. | "Three people in the truck were detained by ground troops, who had arrived to support the naval forces, who had carried out the detention via the helicopter. Not a single shot was fired," he said. |
The authorities say they acted after a surveillance operation lasting several months. | The authorities say they acted after a surveillance operation lasting several months. |
The Zetas began as the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel, another powerful criminal gang. | |
They were made up of defectors from an elite military unit and quickly became known for their brutality. | They were made up of defectors from an elite military unit and quickly became known for their brutality. |
Trevino Morales was unlike most of the Zetas because he was a civilian who worked his way up through the ranks. | Trevino Morales was unlike most of the Zetas because he was a civilian who worked his way up through the ranks. |
The Zetas split from the Gulf cartel in 2010, sparking brutal turf wars across northern Mexico. | The Zetas split from the Gulf cartel in 2010, sparking brutal turf wars across northern Mexico. |
By 2012, they were reputed to be the largest and most powerful cartel. | By 2012, they were reputed to be the largest and most powerful cartel. |
But expert Alejandro Hope says the arrest is another step towards the destruction of the Zetas as a coherent organisation. | But expert Alejandro Hope says the arrest is another step towards the destruction of the Zetas as a coherent organisation. |
"There will still be people who call themselves Zetas, bands of individuals who maintain the same modus operandi," said Mr Hope, a former member of Mexico's domestic intelligence service. | "There will still be people who call themselves Zetas, bands of individuals who maintain the same modus operandi," said Mr Hope, a former member of Mexico's domestic intelligence service. |
Most wanted | Most wanted |
Analysts say Trevino Morales' younger brother, Omar, has been one of his closest lieutenants and may try to position himself as successor. | Analysts say Trevino Morales' younger brother, Omar, has been one of his closest lieutenants and may try to position himself as successor. |
The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says the authorities fear that the arrest could lead to a period of in-fighting between different Zeta factions. | The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says the authorities fear that the arrest could lead to a period of in-fighting between different Zeta factions. |
Trevino Morales is believed to be responsible for ordering two notorious attacks on migrants from other Latin American countries. | Trevino Morales is believed to be responsible for ordering two notorious attacks on migrants from other Latin American countries. |
In 2010, he allegedly ordered the torture and murder of 72 Central American migrants as punishment for their refusal to act as drugs mules. | In 2010, he allegedly ordered the torture and murder of 72 Central American migrants as punishment for their refusal to act as drugs mules. |
A year later, he apparently oversaw the massacre of almost 200 immigrants for similar reasons. | A year later, he apparently oversaw the massacre of almost 200 immigrants for similar reasons. |
Before he became the group's overall leader, Trevino Morales co-ordinated the gang's important Nuevo Laredo drug corridor into the US, the region in which he was finally apprehended. | Before he became the group's overall leader, Trevino Morales co-ordinated the gang's important Nuevo Laredo drug corridor into the US, the region in which he was finally apprehended. |
He is also believed to have controlled a squad of killers who operated in the US state of Texas. | He is also believed to have controlled a squad of killers who operated in the US state of Texas. |
The US authorities had offered $5m reward for any information leading to his capture, making him one of the world's most-wanted drug traffickers. | The US authorities had offered $5m reward for any information leading to his capture, making him one of the world's most-wanted drug traffickers. |