Cartel's Enforcers Out Power Their Boss
Dallas Morning News : Alfredo Corchado : June 11th 2007

Link:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/061107dnintzetas.3a36238.html

Summary:
The Zetas have become so powerful that their original patrons in the Gulf Cartel no longer exert any meaningful control over the group. As evidence of their increasing power, they recently staged simultaneous armed robberies at 5 different casinos in 4 different Mexican states. Twenty six casinos in eleven states have ceased operations presumably under pressure from the Zetas, who are attempting to gain control of the industry.

Additionally, Mexico's leading news magazine, Proceso, quoted Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora as telling Mexican legislators that the Zetas are in control of several regions of the country and have also been "taking control of several of our police forces, corrupting them. ... They're taking our police away." A spokeswoman later confirmed Mr. Medina Mora's comments.

Because of the growing power of the Zetas, Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez, known as El Coss, the reputed leader of the Gulf cartel, and Heriberto Lazcano, known as El Verdugo, "The Executioner," head of the Zetas, communicate strictly via teleconference or through intermediaries. They presumably are mutually afraid of an assassination attempt. According to US authorities, the Zetas now number around 2000, and are capable of operating nearly everywhere in Mexico. Furthermore, there have been recent statements by US authorities, that the Zetas are also operating in the US.

In recent months, as a reaction to the increasing lethality and brutality of the Zetas a new group has formed called, “La Gente Nueva” or “The New People”. They are believed to be former members of the government security forces who have begun to operate outside the law in order to curtail the Zetas activities. They are most likely the group that has been posting videos on Youtube of captured Zetas being beheaded.

Analysis:
The Zetas are far more innovative, organized, disciplined, trained, and funded then any of the drug cartels will ever be. Their interest in the casinos indicate that they could appreciate, obviously, how profitable they are, but also how they could be used to launder large amounts of cash.  Most Zeta operators come from a Special Forces backgrounds either in the Mexican G.A.F.E. or the Guatemalan Kabiles. Reporting indicates the Zetas spend approximately %50 of their profits on training, recruitment, intelligence collection, and administration. So, the Zetas continue to build a very sophisticated organization. The Zetas likely have sources working in most of the law enforcement agencies in Mexico, and are able to anticipate any offensive by the government.

It seems the Zetas have overtaken the Gulf Cartel, and will continue to grow in power and reach. Since, it seems the Mexican security apparatus has been completely penetrated by the Zetas. It is unlikely they will be contained in any meaningful way. Hence, the only meaningful opposition to the Zetas comes from the "New People", but will likely eventually come from the US government. Consequently, if the Zetas continue to expand, the US could be forced to become involved sometime in the not to distant future.