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Mexico Captures Head of Zetas Cartel
Arrest Marks an Important Victory for the New Administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto



By
JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA

MEXICO CITY—The Mexican government Monday said its navy captured the alleged leader of the country's most violent drug-trafficking organization, an important victory for the new administration of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.


An undated photo of Miguel Angel Treviño, the leader of the 'Zetas.'

Miguel Angel Treviño, the head of the Zetas crime organization, was captured in northern Mexico, Deputy Interior Minister Eduardo Sanchez said in a televised news conference. Mr. Treviño had taken over the control of the feared crime group after leader Heriberto Lazcano was killed in a shootout with Mexican marines in October 2012.

A navy helicopter intercepted a pickup truck in which Mr. Treviño and two others were riding on a country road at 3:45 a.m. Monday, Mr. Sanchez said. "Not a shot was fired," he added. Marines also seized $2 million and eight automatic rifles. Among other crimes, Mr. Sanchez said Mr. Treviño was believed to be responsible for ordering the kidnapping and killing of 265 immigrants in two separate incidents. It wasn't immediately clear whether Mr. Treviño had legal representation.

The capture of Mr. Treviño is the first arrest of a top cartel leader since Mr. Peña Nieto came to power in December. Mr. Treviño is on Mexico's most-wanted list with a reward of more than $2 million for his capture. The U.S. has a $5 million reward for his arrest. Mr. Treviño is 40 years old, according to Mexican intelligence documents. He was born in Nuevo Laredo, but grew up with his family in Dallas.

Mr. Peña Nieto has promised to continue the fight against drug cartels that he inherited from his predecessor Felipe Calderón. But Mr. Peña Nieto has also vowed to reduce violence by focusing on solving crimes such as kidnapping and extortion. In Mr. Peña Nieto's first six months in office, around 6,300 people died in killings seen as linked to organized crime, a decline of about 18% from the estimated 7,700 in the previous six months. Close to 70,000 have been killed in Mexico's drug war over the past six years.

"This takedown will boost Peña Nieto several points in the polls, even as he has spurned talking about violence and the narco war," George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., said in an email.

It is also a triumph for the Mexican navy, which works closely with the U.S. Mr. Sanchez lauded the Navy's intelligence work, which he said had begun at the same time the new government took over.

Mr. Trevino wasn't shown to the media in a "perp walk," as was the style in the Calderón administration when the government captured a major drug trafficker. Officials in the Peña Nieto government have said that such displays of captured criminals tended to glorify them.
More-->http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...625724206.html

Originally Posted by domack

Mexico Captures Head of Zetas Cartel
Arrest Marks an Important Victory for the New Administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto



By
JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA

MEXICO CITY—The Mexican government Monday said its navy captured the alleged leader of the country's most violent drug-trafficking organization, an important victory for the new administration of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.


An undated photo of Miguel Angel Treviño, the leader of the 'Zetas.'

Miguel Angel Treviño, the head of the Zetas crime organization, was captured in northern Mexico, Deputy Interior Minister Eduardo Sanchez said in a televised news conference. Mr. Treviño had taken over the control of the feared crime group after leader Heriberto Lazcano was killed in a shootout with Mexican marines in October 2012.

A navy helicopter intercepted a pickup truck in which Mr. Treviño and two others were riding on a country road at 3:45 a.m. Monday, Mr. Sanchez said. "Not a shot was fired," he added. Marines also seized $2 million and eight automatic rifles. Among other crimes, Mr. Sanchez said Mr. Treviño was believed to be responsible for ordering the kidnapping and killing of 265 immigrants in two separate incidents. It wasn't immediately clear whether Mr. Treviño had legal representation.

The capture of Mr. Treviño is the first arrest of a top cartel leader since Mr. Peña Nieto came to power in December. Mr. Treviño is on Mexico's most-wanted list with a reward of more than $2 million for his capture. The U.S. has a $5 million reward for his arrest. Mr. Treviño is 40 years old, according to Mexican intelligence documents. He was born in Nuevo Laredo, but grew up with his family in Dallas.

Mr. Peña Nieto has promised to continue the fight against drug cartels that he inherited from his predecessor Felipe Calderón. But Mr. Peña Nieto has also vowed to reduce violence by focusing on solving crimes such as kidnapping and extortion. In Mr. Peña Nieto's first six months in office, around 6,300 people died in killings seen as linked to organized crime, a decline of about 18% from the estimated 7,700 in the previous six months. Close to 70,000 have been killed in Mexico's drug war over the past six years.

"This takedown will boost Peña Nieto several points in the polls, even as he has spurned talking about violence and the narco war," George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., said in an email.

It is also a triumph for the Mexican navy, which works closely with the U.S. Mr. Sanchez lauded the Navy's intelligence work, which he said had begun at the same time the new government took over.

Mr. Trevino wasn't shown to the media in a "perp walk," as was the style in the Calderón administration when the government captured a major drug trafficker. Officials in the Peña Nieto government have said that such displays of captured criminals tended to glorify them.
More-->http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...625724206.html

I suppose this would have been very good news a few years ago before the Zetas diversified their leadership and operations- now he's just another mole in the whack-a-mole game. Better than not catching him, but little impact on security imho.

They also got the accountant in the same raid. This could be potentially more de-stabilizing if any sort of 'credit' was extended for payments. Somehow I doubt the entire pipeline is a cash-only business.

How does one make a clear distinction between the hunter and the hunted?
We have no idea what's happening here. None.