Who are the "Mata Zetas"?

A few days ago, I started seeing Spanish-language media reports about a group of Mexican hitmen killing...other hitmen. Here are a couple of translated excerpts from these reports:

"Inside an abandoned truck in a residential neighborhood in Cancun, Quintana Roo State, were found the bodies of three men, handcuffed and with plastic bags on their heads. Together with the remains was a note with the message: 'We are the new group Mata Zetas and we are against kidnapping and extortion, and we will fight them in all states for a cleaner Mexico.'" Link to El Universal Article

"A video on YouTube confirms the existence of a group of hitmen dedicated to the capture and killing of members of organized crime groups. The group calls itself 'Mata Zetas' and previously denounced a series of crimes by leaders and members of Los Zetas." Link to Terra.com.mx Article

Analysis: Normally I'm the one providing you, the reader, with some answers and explanations, but the phenomenon of 'Mata Zetas' and other vigilante groups in Mexico is still pretty new to me. I recently sent out an email to colleagues asking if they had information about an anti-Kidnapping vigilante group in Coahuila being reported by the Saltillo Vanguardia, but that group seems to be an unknown as well. Unfortunately, I have more questions than answers about the "Mata Zetas," namely, who created them, who leads them, and who funds them? I'm personally not a huge fan of vigilantism (although I am a huge fan of Jack Bauer), especially when the corpses start piling up. It's very possible, and even likely, that the "Mata Zetas" don't have the best interests of a "cleaner Mexico" at heart, and are just a front for one of Los Zetas' competitors - likely La Familia Michoacana or the Sinaloa Federation.

A theory that's a little more out there, yet concerning nonetheless, is that the "Mata Zetas" are being honest about their intentions, and could possibly be unofficially sanctioned by the Mexican government. I don't consider myself to be a conspiracy theorist, but I'm thinking of this possibility because we've seen something similar occur in Colombia - although the parties involved are a little different. In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar created his own private army of enforcers because he was getting tired of his crew members getting killed and operationg being disrupted by the Marxist FARC guerrillas. These paramilitaries eventually grew and morphed into the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), which was designated as a terrorist organization by the US in 2001. Anyway, the AUC was made up of a LOT of former Colombian army soldiers, and dozens of Colombian congressment are jailed and awaiting trial for providing support to the AUC. Many Colombians don't blame them; the AUC had the same mission as the Colombian army and the government - to get rid of FARC and National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorists. Could the "Mata Zetas" be or become to the DTOs like the AUC was in Colombia to the FARC and ELN? I'm curious to see where their notes - and deeds - pop up next.

Comments

[veronica miller]

Just out of curiosity, aren't you just a bit afraid of putting your self and loved ones in danger of being on a hit list?

[Sylvia Longmire]

Veronica - It is something that crosses my mind from time to time. I - like anyone who regularly follows these issues - have a healthy respect for what DTOs are capable of. Yet, I have to look at their usual targets (rivals, Mexican law enforcement and government officials, Mexican military, drug dealers who've done them wrong) and my personal circumstances. I'm an American citizen, live in the US, and have no ability as an analyst to affect DTO operations in any way. I don't travel to Mexico and have no connections to anyone in the drug business. While I do have many friends and colleagues in US law enforcement agencies, I'm not privy to information that will likely result in anyone's arrest.

It's true that Mexican journalists are regularly targeted for reporting on drug-related incidents in Mexico. However, I'm not a reporter; even if I were, American reporters aren't being targeted in the same way Mexican reporters are. I'm just a humble analyst trying to make sense of it all, and in my logic (which admittedly is sometimes a little weird), that doesn't put me very high up on the target list relative to other people. That being said, I'm always careful and vigilant...just in case.

[Josue]

I live in Tijuana, and im glad they caught Raydel Lopez Uriarte " El Muletas"
they kidnapped my uncle, and I never saw him again

[Anonymous]

i live in monterrey, nuevo leon and i know a little bit about this topic...The criminal organization kown as "Los Zetas" were created by the mexican government time ago as an elite group in the mexican army..they deserted and became the cartels mercenaries/hitmen..the mexican government after some time sent another unit to a war school where they became even more elite and prepared than the original Zetas, they were called El Comando Negro (The Dark/Black Command), they were supposed to take out Los Zetas but instead deserted and joined them..yeah lol..anyways, the Zetas became so big, vast and huge, so powerfull, had so many weapons, men and money, that instead of working for cartels, they themselves became one. The Cartels had ALWAYS respected the society, they only worked at drug trafficking, never kidnapped people, or started shootings in mid-day, or threw grenades at clubs and government offices, etc. But Zetas did, they stablished a city as their "Plaza" (Territory) and people from any other cartel that wanted to go there or moved drugs through it were killed unlike what cartels used to do which was a negociation for both parties without shedding any blood..specially from innocents..so the zetas started kidnapping, killing women and children, blackmailing rich people, killing cops, charging money to businesses who are within their territory, breaking ALL the implicit rules cartels had time ago agreed on respecting. This has been going for around 5 years now, maybe more and everyone has grown tired of it. Executions, shootings, kidnappings, etc. mean more security, even the army and the navy getting involved because of how the Zetas act, this is obviously not good for the cartels because higher security measures equals higher risks in their business..rumour has it (and its almost proven, everyone knows it tbh) that some of the richest people in my state and from others states came together with the gobernor of my state and the mayor of my city to discuss a plan of action, which later became hiring mercenaries, it is said its an American Agency called Jax Desmond (www.jaxdesmond.com) but that's a real rumour..better trained than any Zeta..Mercenaries from Israel, Russia, Ex-marines, Ex-Navy Seals, you get the point..this group was named "The Rude/Tough Group" but they call themselves "The Mata Zetas" (The Zetas Killers) Highly trained, with field experience and being funded by some of the richest people in the country..including politicians. Few days ago, three cartels - La Familia from Michoacan,El Cartel de Sinaloa from Sinaloa and El Cartel del Golfo joined forces to take down the Zetas. So, as you can imagine, there's literally a war going on. Three mayor cartels PLUS well trained mercenaries are looking for the Zetas without mentioning the authorities (Mexican Navy, Military, Police, etc.). This is mainly why things are so screwed up right now. Hope this serves you somehow.

[IceT]

thats just a rumor about the MErcs,

[angel]

ya pretty much thats the rumor in mexico this is people funded by the family's of kidnap rich people that got tired of the bs and took matters in their own hands

[CR]

I would like to add that this group "MATA ZETAS" is probably the same that the 3 Cartels are sponsoring, remember that who's going to work for free are be risking the life for free.
La barbie is on one of YouTube videos interrogating a Zeta, so are the 3 cartels fighting the Zetas or the Independent group"Mata Zetas"??
That's why I believe Mata Zetas are just the arm of the Other cartels trying to get rid of the mess that Cartel del golfo created when they hired this Elite Mexican Amy Group.
Either or is a problem that our Corrupt Mexican Government from previews Administration left to the Present one. My most sincere respect for the president that is fighting this problem.
A lot of people had die 28,000 and it seems that is not going to stop any time soon.
The Zetas are a cruel organization that is here to fight for the spot that they took from the other cartels.
My question to the government is..........since we have a Data base on the Voting Card (that is a Mexican main ID card on any state) when you applied for one they will finger print you. These people obviously are not under 18 this tells me that some time in their lives they had or have an ID; therefore how come the Government is not making public who these people are on a web page, making it more easy to spot them or be aware of these people. They do not know who are they because they can be your neighbors or a family member.
When they have a fight with the police, army or navy they always live behind the guns and trucks, finger prints are left behind too.
The Mexicans deserve to know who are the people in their community that are working with these group (Zetas) and the Government can help them with the information.
But these group have insiders in the different agencies making it difficult for the honest officers fighting these organizations.

Thanks

[Icif]

Looking at the ongoing cartel situation in Mexico, it is comparable to the once dire terrorist situation in Iraq. The difference being, the problem in Mexico stems from the drug trade (money) where as the problem in Iraq was a religious/nationalistic fight per se.
After doing some research on the Mata Zetas and reading numerous articles about the group and their alleged "noble" intentions, one would like to believe that they are cleaning up the streets. But, I will continue to have my suspicions that this group may just be one of the other cartels eliminating their competition.
After having served in Iraq and watching the development and follow on success of a home grown (Iraqi) counterinsurgency, I believe that a similar front could lead to the control of and minimization of drug cartels in Mexico. I think that for a counterinsurgency, or better put counter cartel movement to be successful in Mexico, it is going to take more than just a small group of vigilantes.
In Iraq, insurgents ran rampant and did anything they wanted because people feared them. Corruption amongst local authorities was also a major issue that US advisors had to contend with. It was not until the people (innocent civilians) got tired of the un-prejudicial violence and killing by the insurgency that there was positive shift in the conflict in Iraq. The people stood together in a front against the insurgency. This was not just one or two villages we are talking about. We are even talking about people who did not want the US in Iraq, who were tired of the violence being caused by the insurgency, finally putting their foot down and saying enough is enough. Iraqi civilians led by former Iraqi military officers began to fight back. They started establishing checkpoints, community patrols, and reporting information about known insurgents even if those insurgents were their own family or tribe members. Slowly but surely with the support of the US this movement turned into a fully fledged counterinsurgency. The coin had flipped and the insurgents were no longer the hunters but instead the hunted. They no longer had the freedom of movement they had once been able to use to instill fear in innocent Iraqis. Many insurgents were convinced by the developing events to drop their weapons and renounce their affiliation with any insurgent or religious extremist group or the other option would likely be death at the hands of their own countrymen.
In my opinion the only way towards some sort of success against these cartels and their indiscriminant violence, is a similar type of movement by Mexican citizens. It will require everyone standing up and saying "we will not be afraid any longer!" Severe punishment for those found to have affiliations with these cartels will have to be a necessity, and even more severe for those corrupt officials who allow these organizations to continue their operations without hindrance.

[name is reqires]

The group mata-zetas are branches of existing cartels (mainly Sinaloa Cartel) that dedicate their work to eliminating zetas. This is not like Colombia when "Los PEPES" were taking out Pablo Escobar's people.

[Jay Vee]

Save the hassle inact that all Mexican citizens can carry and own firearms and then we'll see this problem kinda go away all by itself. How funny will it be when a drug dealer comes to collect his rent staring down a barrel of a gun, how much do you think he will collect. Plus this will reduce his power over whole cities. after a few drug dealers deaths they move on to easy targets.