Los Zetas Transnational Criminal Organization (DTO)

Author Peter Andreas explains that a "wide range of smuggling practices" has been part of the "cross-border economic exchange since the nineteenth century," and hence the present-day smuggling of drugs across the border into the United States is not at all a new phenomenon (Andreas, 2012, p. 29). In fact Andreas explains that the economic relationship between the United States and Mexico "…was founded on smuggling," and today (as drugs move from south to north) things are opposite of what they were two hundred or so years ago when the smuggling went from north to south (Andreas, 29).

The United States agency of drugs have discovered that for all of the illegal drugs consumed in the nation has been transported by the Mexican cartels. “U.S. federal officials say that the mexican cartels operate in dozens of U.S. cities and analysts say they are moving to consolidate their control of the entire supply chain of illegals drugs”(Schwartz, 1). The government of the United States have been conducting the investigation to now if the cartels are north. Many big cities today have a piece of the cartel organization working there and also producing drugs to distribute within the city. According to the investigation done by the DEA and U.N officials “Mexican cartels have established command - and - control centers to orchestrate cocaine shipments by sea and air along the still wild caribbean coast with the help of local authorities”(Booth, 2). All though that the cartel are moving to the United States they are still leaving command center in mexico to conduct shipments by ground or any other shipments overseas. The cartel is able to transport such quantities of drugs with help of the local authorities and other corrupt government officials.

Mexican drug cartels have been expanding its portfolios to include doing business in sex trafficking. The Zetas are the most feared drug cartel in Mexico’s drug, sex trafficking trade, and etc.; the Zetas are a criminal army made up of defectors from the Mexican military. Anybody who crosses them will more than likely get their heads chopped off or won’t live to see another day.

The Mexican cartels are so powerful mostly because they are being supplied with weapons from the U.S. “A recent weapon seizure in Nuevo Leon, just across the border from Texas, illustrates that drug traffickers may 11, after an armed confrontation, the Mexican army seized 124 assault rifles, 15 handguns three rockets, more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition and 1,375 ammo magazines.”(Ignatius 2). Most of these weapons come from the U.S. In Arizona the Mexican government held 31.946 handguns and 41,093 assault rifles of these weapons 80% percent came from the United States all this according to the Mexican ambassador starting December 2006 and the percent is getting larger (Ignatius1).

The United States is the world’s number one consumer of narcotics and thus 90% of cocaine seized in the U.S. comes from Mexico due to the close geographical boundaries it is easy to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. from Mexico. The U.S.’s demand for narcotics and other drugs creates an 18-39 billion dollar market each year, all coming solely from drug sales. Drug violence is a direct result of protecting each business 's product. Cartels like the Zetas use violence to create a “brand” for their franchise. The violent cartels create a sense of fear so no one gets in their way and so others will comply with their wishes and demands.

Mexican Drug Cartels have been a problem for many years. The cartels are an organized crime organization and they don’t just deal drugs; they commit murders too. The Cartels origins are traced back to the Columbian Cali and Medellin mega-cartels who were responsible for the majority of drug trafficking into the United States. Crime has existed for many years but it surfaced more when Pablo Escobar was popular. Pablo Escobar was one the main transporters for cocaine throughout Mexico and the United States coming straight out of Columbia. Law enforcement tried to stop the drug trade but Escobar formed a relationship with Mexico-based traffickers who smuggled drugs into the United States. Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo also known as “The Godfather” of the cartels. Seeing how he established the Guadalajara Cartel, which is recognized as the first Mexican Cartel, and were the first to link up with Escobar and started the transportation of cocaine

Due to drugs-related gang violence since 2006, when Mexican President Felipe Calderón entered office, more than 100,000 people have been killed (CNN Library, 2017). Among the major Mexican cartels - Los Zetas Cartel, Gulf Cartel, La and La Familia Michoacana, the Sinaloa Cartel is the most dominant drug trafficking organization in Mexico with an increasing presence in the United States. Roughly 80% of illegal substances like heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana are supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel (Woody, 2016). There have been several attempts of increased pressure from both the U.S. and Mexican governments to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and this has led to significant instability and violence escalating into a national security crisis.

Gangs are not a new thing they have been around for years but what is a gang really? According to the National Institute of Justice there is not universally agreed definition of what a gang is such a motorcycle gangs, prison gangs, organized crime, terrorist and so much more. The federal definition is a group of three of more individuals that identify themselves as a group. They have created a sense of fear or intimidation they also have a symbol, a style of clothing, a common name and much more. These groups engage in criminal activities and use violence to keep power and a reputation. These groups will recruit, have meetings, and provide protection for members and their families. The state defines a gang as an ongoing organization or group

Located in Colombia, the city of Medellin was one of the biggest drug trafficking organizations in the world since the 1970’s. During the early 1970s the demand for cocaine spreads rapidly in the United States, the limited raw supplies produced in Colombia were build up with coca paste imported from Bolivia and Peru, refined in "kitchen laboratories" in Colombia, and smuggled into the United States. Medellín criminal networks during the mid-1970s transform the cocaine transportation system from petite activities into enormous airlift operations. During the late 1970’s through the earliest 1980’s, Griselda Blanco started incorporate into the drug industry. She was known as the “Cocaine Godmother”, “Black Widow”, and/or “Queen of Narco-trafficking.” While during about the same period time, Pablo Escobar raised himself to become one of the major drug dealers. He was known as “The World’s Greatest Outlaws”, “Sir Pablo”, “the Godfather”, “the Boss”, “the Lord”, “the Magician”, and/or “Little Pablo.” He was the hardest cocaine dealer to catch. Blanco and Escobar were well known for taking advantage of Medellin 's’ (back then) conditions by easily transporting drugs from Colombia to the United States. Some of the things that contributed into those two people to become the biggest drug dealers, are how they were raised in their early childhood to early teenage years, and their natal country (back then) conditions, and how they mold themselves towards their raise to power.

The Mexican Mafia, or “La Eme”, as they refer to themselves, is one of the most powerful and influential organized crime gangs in the United States. The organization has risen through the decades of mass gang wars and violence to become the power it is today. Their control is limitless and they have ventured far beyond the expectations of what was thought that gangs were capable of. They have infiltrated governments and manipulated politics. They have taken over neighborhoods and attempted to ethnically cleanse them. Innocent people have become caught up in the affairs of La Eme throughout its history and many have faced violence and death at their hands. This paper is a continual of the case analysis of the Mexican Mafia and will attempt to provide explanations for some of the crimes committed by this organization. Researching gangs and organized crime is important because of their large influence and control over many aspects of daily life. The significance of attempting to provide causations of their crimes can better provide the criminal justice system a clearer understanding of problems that lead to gang members committing crimes on behalf of the organization. A clearer understanding of problems can help the system to provide solutions to combat situations that inhibit crimes.

The Sinaloa Cartel is considered the largest and wealthiest organized crime syndicate in the Western Hemisphere. Run by drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the Sinaloa Cartel is the biggest player in the Mexican drug trafficking trade. “Mexican drug trafficking is estimated by analysts to be worth $13 billion US a year,” according to the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC, 2015, par. 2). Heavily involved in the production and distribution of marijuana, cocaine and opium, the Sinaloa Cartel is also operates prostitution rings and deals in human trafficking. According to CBC, “analysts estimate that since 2006, 70,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence.” The Sinaloa Cartel is the United States Government’s biggest obstacle in the international war on drugs and its diabolical leader is once again free.

Recognized as one of the most fearless and violent cartels in all of Mexico, Los Zetas was brought forth by a need for personal security in the Gulf Cartel. This former hit man/security style operation, active since 1997, has since grown into its own ruthless and violent organization becoming the second most powerful cartel and easily the most feared in all of Mexico. Heavily trained and armed, members of Los Zetas are set apart from other cartels because of the level of brutality they are willing to administer to those who cross them, though they had initially hoped that by being more intimidating they would have to fight less. It is their command of the drug market, their lack of fear in using violent tactics, and the

The Los Zetas is a Mexican transnational criminal organization specializing in drug and human trafficking that has extended across the Texas and Arizona borders with recent expansion in the South and Midwest. They are a paramilitary group specializing in violent behavior that has crossed the Mexican/American border to include recruitment of United States young citizens. Because it is not a matter of when the Zetas will breach our border areas, but how forcefully and repeatedly, a Red Cell analysis is imperative to understand their criminal mindset and predict their imminent and future intentions. Penetration beyond our borders has already occurred not only with the shipment of drugs, but also by way of attacks on U.S. law enforcement and recruitment of U.S. youth to carry out their dirty work within the U.S. borders.

Every day the U.S. border patrol has to constantly keep an eye out for the smuggling of drugs by Mexican Cartels. There has been much violence due to this drug problem that has left many people near the border killed and is allowing more criminals to obtain these weapons. A lot of this attention goes to the U.S. because many of the weapons utilized in the “drug war” are U.S. made and is interfering with trading relations amongst both the U.S. and Mexico. With this current violent situation in Mexico this has transformed the flow of weapons to an even larger scale.

Drug trafficking has been an ongoing epidemic in the United States, as well us other countries for an unimaginable amount of time. Illegal drugs varying from heroin and cocaine are primarily the main drugs that get smuggled in the United States from South America. Even marijuana and methamphetamine have been popular in the drug smuggling “industry”. These gangs go to a variety of different extents to get the job done. Drug trafficking increases the violence levels These drugs have been smuggled through the Southwest Border since the 1970s and are attempting to expand the distribution of those drugs into eastern U.S. markets. The countries of drug production have been seen as the worst affected by prohibition. In many countries worldwide, the illegal drug trafficking can be directly linked to high violent crimes. This is especially true in third world countries, but has still been seen as an issue for many developed countries all over the world. Drug trafficking increases the risk of violence and crime due rise of addiction along with an increase of death. It also effects the along with correctional system effects.to its high costs, Nearly all of the heroin produced in Mexico is destined for distribution in the United States. Organized crime groups operating from Mexico produce, smuggle, and distribute various illegal drugs after trafficking them across the US border. Trafficking groups that operate from Mexico tend to avoid penalties by their stealthy methods of smuggling