Los Zetas were a Mexican drug cartel founded in 1997 by Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, originally as an armed wing of the Gulf Cartel. They engaged in drug trafficking, murder, money laundering, and cybercrime, operating primarily in Tamaulipas and expanding across Mexico and internationally. The cartel was known for extreme violence and was considered a major rival to the Sinaloa Cartel. By 2018, the organization was dismantled, with factions such as the Cartel del Noreste continuing operations.
CRIMENET has extracted 277 linkages for this organization, including 132 cooperative ties across 40 organizations, 114 conflicts across 21 organizations, 31 other connections and footprints in 23 countries.
Rest of North America : , United States , Guatemala , El Salvador , Honduras , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , and Dominica
Rest of North America : , United States , Guatemala , El Salvador , Honduras , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , and Dominica
Europe : , Balkans , France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal , European Union , Norway , Switzerland , Liechtenstein , Moldova , San Marino and Estonia
Europe : , Balkans , France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal , European Union , Norway , Switzerland , Liechtenstein , Moldova , San Marino and Estonia
Europe : , Balkans , France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Portugal , European Union , Norway , Switzerland , Liechtenstein , Moldova , San Marino and Estonia
They were also active in several states in the United States, including Texas.