U.S. Indictment Reveals Zetas Leader Managed Mesican Cartel from Prison

A recent U.S. indictment claims that Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, also known as "Zeta 40," has maintained control over the Northeast Cartel from within a Mexican prison. Treviño Morales, a co-founder of the infamous Zetas cartel, has been incarcerated since his capture in 2013.

The indictment details how Treviño Morales and his brother Omar—who was arrested in 2015—established the Northeast Cartel as a successor to the Zetas. The brothers reportedly tasked relatives with managing the cartel's day-to-day operations while they remained behind bars. This situation raises serious concerns about security within Mexican prisons, where inmates can often meet with lawyers and family members without sufficient oversight, facilitating communication with the outside world.

According to the indictment, the brothers renamed the Zetas as "Cartel Del Noreste" (CDN) and continued to exert control over the cartel, appointing various family members to run operations in their absence, as reported by the AP. The charges against them include drug trafficking, conspiracy, money laundering, and operating a criminal enterprise, which could result in life sentences if convicted.

The United States has sought the extradition of Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, but this process has been stalled for nearly a decade due to court appeals. Drug lords in Mexico often resist extradition fiercely, as remaining in Mexican prisons allows them to maintain influence over their criminal enterprises.

In 2022, Juan Gerardo Treviño, alias "El Huevo" or "The Egg," one of the relatives allegedly running the CDN's daily operations, was captured and deported to the United States after it was discovered he held U.S. citizenship. This allowed him to avoid the lengthy extradition process.

The CDN is said to dominate Nuevo Laredo, a border city across from Laredo, Texas. The cartel is notorious for its extreme violence, frequently launching attacks on army patrols. Just last week, a soldier was killed in a shootout in the area. President Claudia Sheinbaum remarked that Nuevo Laredo has seen the highest number of attacks against the army and National Guard by criminal groups.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza from the Western District of Texas condemned the Treviño Morales brothers, stating that they have committed "horrible atrocities" while controlling one of Mexico's most violent drug organizations, affecting both Mexico and the United States.

In September, the Texas Border Patrol captured Carlos Munsivais Treviño, a high-ranking leader of the Cartel del Noreste known as "El Bola". He was taken by Mexican forces and taken to the capital to face charges.