Organized Crime is a wide reaching phenomenon that can have a serious effect on every aspect of life. Today many countries are faced with the challenges of curbing the menace of organized crime and over the years some countries unfortunately have been stereotyped and given bad names because of the activities of these criminal groups. Mexico being the second largest economy in Latin America is no exception to these stereotypes, weak institutions which includes the police and judiciary as well as its proximity to the U.S made Mexico a perfect playground for criminal groups to thrive, it has a become a hub for the world most sophisticated drug network. Several drug cartels fight each for territories, some formed alliance while others splintered, these groups of cartel has over the years evolved, prominent amongst the cartels currently active in Mexico include the Los Zetas cartel, Sinaloa cartel, Juarez cartel. These Cartels today hold strong power in the territories they control (Kellner and Pipitone, 2010). This academic report will focus on the Los zetas cartel. It will examine its origin, strength, Evolution, organizational structure, criminal activities, targets, and the economic consequences of the group in Mexico.
Origin and Strength .
Los Zetas Roots dates back to the late1990's when it acted as the paramilitary wing of the gulf cartel (McCarthy, 2011). Recruited by the then leader of the gulf cartel Osiel Cardenas, their main objectives were to protect the cartel and its leader and also eliminate competitors (Sullivan and Logan, 2010). The group consisted mainly of recruits selected from the Groupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFES) a wing of the Mexican Army special force who deserted the army and many of them are trained by the united states (Stout, 2012). This recruited Special Forces where highly trained and well equipped enough to build paramilitary narco-army to protect the cartel boss and do his bidding (Logan, 2012).