Leader of notorious Mexican cartel Los Zetas arrested

Mexico City (AFP) - A leader of the violent Los Zetas drug cartel has been arrested in the northwestern Mexican state of Tamaulipas bordering the United States, officials said on Sunday.

Mario Alberto Arce Moreno, 31, was apprehended by federal and state police, who were able to make the arrest "without firing a single shot," according to a press release issued by law enforcement officials.

Authorities said Arce is a top figure with the Zetas, one of Mexico's most feared cartels.

He is alleged to have been involved in major drug trafficking and human smuggling operations for the cartel, which is said to be responsible for much of the violence that has roiled the northern Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas in recent years.

Los Zetas (pronounced: [los ˈsetas], Spanish for "The Z's") is a powerful and violent criminal syndicate in Mexico, and is considered by the U.S. government to be the "most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and dangerous cartel operating in Mexico."[6][7] The origins of Los Zetas date back to the late 1990s when commandos of the Mexican Army's forces deserted their ranks and decided to work as the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel, a drug trafficking organization.[8][9] In February 2010, Los Zetas broke away from their former employer and formed their own criminal organization.[10][11]
Los Zetas are well armed and equipped, and unlike other traditional criminal organizations in Mexico, drug trafficking makes up at least 50% of their revenue, while a large portion of the income comes from other activities directed against both rival drug cartels and civilians;[8] their brutal tactics, which include beheadings, torture and indiscriminate slaughter, show that they often prefer brutality over bribery.[8] Los Zetas are also Mexico's largest drug cartel in terms of geographical presence, overtaking its rivals, the Sinaloa Cartel.[12] Los Zetas also operate through protection rackets, assassinations, extortion, kidnappings, and other criminal activities.[13] The organization is based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, directly across the border from Laredo, Texas.