Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales was captured this week in Mexico.
Morales, known as Z-40, was arrested by Mexican marines on Monday morning .
According to the Independent, the Zetas leader was captured after he was caught in a pickup truck with more than $2 million in cash.
The truck was driving near the border city of Nuevo Laredo when it was stopped by a marine helicopter. Trevino Morales, a bodyguard, and an accountant were taken into custody. The marines also found $2 million in cash and eight guns in the vehicle.
Alejandro Hope, a former member of Mexico’s domestic intelligence service, praised the Mexican marines for the Zetas leader’s capture but warned Mexican citizens that the cartel’s reign of terror was far from over.
Hope said: “It’s another link in the destruction of the Zetas as a coherent, identifiable organization… There will still be people who call themselves Zetas, bands of individuals who maintain the same modus operandi. There will be fights over illegal networks.”
Z-40 and his accomplices were taken to Mexico City where they will be tried for various crimes. Yahoo News reports that the trial process usually takes years for high profile cases.
Government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez said that Trevino Morales will be charged with the kidnapping and killing of 265 migrants.The Zetas leader will also face charges dealing with torture, drug smuggling, murder, and several other crimes.
Z-40 was known for his temper and his wrath. A US law-enforcement official in Mexico City said that Morales frequently burned his enemies in a “guiso.” Morales would place his enemies in a 55-gallon drum and then burn them to death. He was also known to use wooden planks to bludgeon anyone who crossed his path.
Here’s a video about the Zetas from Reuters.
Morales’ brother, Omar, is expected to replace Z-40 as the leader of the Zetas.
