What you're probably not aware of about the Zetas in Mexico

[midnight rambler]

Someone whom I've know for years and trust completely lives near Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya just south of Cancun. He recently told me about the activities of the Zetas in that area, which of course is far removed from the border. He says the Zetas are far, far worse than the Italian mafia ever was in the states. The Zetas are extorting every business they can, focusing on night clubs and restaurants. The Zetas will start going into a nightclub and hang out, not paying for drinks. Then they will pressure the owner or manager to start paying them. ALL nightclubs are under this influence. He cited an example of a good friend of his (a Mexican national) who is a member of what formerly used to be one of the wealthiest families in Mexico (owning a large chain of grocery stores), however some bad business decisions having nothing to do with the Zetas led to a large drop in their wealth - but still very wealthy nonetheless. Up until recently this Mexican national from the wealthy family owned a nice restaurant in Playa del Carmen. The Zetas started paying visits to his restaurant, and once they had established who they needed to target for extortion they made him an offer he couldn't refuse - pay the Zetas $10,000/month or they would kill him and kidnap his family. So he closed his restaurant in Playa del Carmen and moved his family to a town in north central Mexico.

[DMac]

This blog entry talks of a similar story as the OP (Spanish, translate via preferred service):

http://exijamosloimposible.blogspot.com/2009/01/son-los-zetas-no-se-puede-hacer-nada.html


So is the US arming the Cartels? ::)


Operation FAST AND FURIOUS

Mexican attorney general says "full force of law" to be used in ATF gunwalking scandal investigation (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20048028-10391695.html)

Obama's body language and shit eating grin betray him.

Obama on "gunwalking": Serious mistake may have been made (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20046151-10391695.html)

snip

Last night, a reporter from Univision asked President Obama about the subject of a CBS News investigation: allegations that ATF allowed traffickers to send weapons to Mexican drug cartels in an operation called "Fast and Furious."



US not alone in aiding Cartels via weapons.


How Much Is Guatemala Arming the Zetas? (http://www.insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/755-how-much-is-guatemala-arming-the-zetas?)

(for some extra info, research the CIA's involvement in Guatemala, they have been very active there for over 60 years.)

[Twisted Titan]

The Zetas started paying visits to his restaurant, and once they had established who they needed to target for extortion they made him an offer he couldn't refuse - pay the Zetas $10,000/month or they would kill him and kidnap his family. So he closed his restaurant in Playa del Carmen and moved his family to a town in north central Mexico.


Same thing coming to America ...with the exact same results. The productive will take flight

[Awoke]

What you're probably not aware of about the Zetas in Mexico



That they're funded and armed by the CIA?

[DMac]

bump

10c.

[solid]

That they're funded and armed by the CIA?

I know for a fact, have received first hand knowledge, that we trained them. The Zetas are ex military at the start. I would not doubt for a second that they are funded by .Gov...but can we confirm that? Is that a hard fact, or just an internet theory?

And, Yes. The Zetas are a much bigger problem than our media reports to us.

[EE_]

I like to see a body reader go to work on Obama in this video interview

Obama on "gunwalking": Serious mistake may have been made (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20046151-10391695.html)

I don't have to be an expert to see this piece of crud is lying his ass off.
His "dear in the headlights" with raised eyebrows is very telling.

[Neuro]

Any relation to Catherine Zeta-Jones?

[Neuro]

Any relation to Catherine Zeta-Jones?
I just read her wikipedia page and apparently she started out having Zeta as a first name, being Welsh Irish... No relation to Mexican mafia, unless her paternal grandmother Zeta Jones started it... ;D

[Glass]

I recall a version of this story that said US militia or sovereign citizens were responsible for the US arms showing up in Mexico including grenades IIRC. Interesting how it turns out to be the US Govt corp itself. No it's not interesting, just unsurprising.

[Horn]

If it weren't for the drug wars, crack cocaine never would have had a chance at marketability.

We can all thank Nancy Reagan.

[mrnhtbr2232]

Hollywood loves remakes - we could name this one something like "Contras come to dinner" or "Those crazy Mujahideen" or maybe "The Golden Triangle meets the Federales" or even "I've got Noriega - did you bring salts?" - I mean, c'mon. The Zetas practically own Mexico, authority and otherwise. I seriously doubt our government would let an immediate neighbor state dissolve into a paramilitary mafia unless there was something big in it for them and/or they facilitated it. I'm sure by now there's plenty of members in the Zeta ranks handy with guns on their own, but they are cut from the same cloth as mercenaries just the same. Who can blame the guy that closed his restaurant and left town? Or for that matter the police, the mayors, the teachers, the lawyers....

[Eyebone]

Oh knock off the CIA bullshit.

CIA are big drug dealers but Mexican cartels get their training and most of their arms from FARK in Columbia and Venezuela.