The leader of Mexico’s notorious Zetas drug cartel was captured Wednesday during a pre-dawn raid in the city of Monterrey, officials have announced.
Alejandro Trevino-Morales, also known as “Omar” and “42,” was taken into custody by federal forces, an official – who was not authorized to be quoted by name due to government policy – told The Associated Press.
Trevino-Morales is reported to have run the cartel since the 2013 arrest of his brother, Miguel. The Zetas’ other biggest leader, Heriberto Lazcano, or “El Lazca,” was killed by Mexican marines in 2012.
Trevino-Morales, 41, is allegedly responsible for several abductions and murders committed in Nuevo Laredo between 2005 and 2006, the U.S. State Department says. He also was allegedly the supply source for multi-kilogram loads of cocaine smuggled from Mexico to the United States.
The Mexican government had offered a $2 million reward for Trevino-Morales’ capture on weapons and organized crime charges, while the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million.
The Zetas cartel evolved from a small group of Mexican Special Forces deserters that were hired to protect Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, the former leader of the Gulf Cartel. The organization grew into a ruthless security force that took responsibility for the smuggling of the Gulf Cartel’s cocaine and other drugs from Mexico into the United States, in addition to running their own smuggling operations.
Last week, police captured another suspected drug lord, Servando “La Tuta” Gomez, who was the leader of the Knights Templar cartel.
