11/13/12 – During the past week, four operatives of the Zetas Cartel were captured by members of the Mexican Navy (Secretaría de Marina, SEMAR) in the states of Coahuila and Aguascalientes. The captures began on November 7 when the Navy captured two Zetas: Said Omar Juarez, alias “El Peluso,” who was captured in Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila and Samuel Rodríguez Solórzano, alias “El Chikano,” who was captured in Aguascalientes, capital of the state of the same name. Four days later on November 11, Eduardo Herrera Nuncio, alias “El Lalo,” and Sergio Alberto Torres Nuncio, alias “El Checo,” were also captured in Saltillo, Coahuila. Authorities are optimistic about the apprehensions, as they hope that they could lead to information on Miguel Angel Treviño Morales “Z-40,” the current leader of the Zetas.
“El Peluso’s” apprehension is the most significant, as many authorities believe that he has a direct connection to Treviño and may have information regarding his whereabouts. “El Peluso” heads the Zetas Cartel in the city of Saltillo, and was captured in the capital on Boulevard Galerías on Wednesday, November 7 during ground patrols by Navy personnel. During the apprehension, authorities confiscated an AK-47, three cartridges for high-caliber bullets, 140 bullets, a grenade, communication tools, an automobile, 14.5 kilograms of a green herb resembling marijuana, and 22 small bags of cocaine. Authorities believe that “El Peluso” collaborated with “El Chikano” regarding operations in Aguascalientes, where “El Chikano” was captured at 8 p.m. on November 7. “El Chikano” is a Zetas operative who controlled the pass of drugs, guns, vehicles, personnel, and dues in the area, facilitated kidnappings and extortion and controlled operations in the municipalities of Villa de Coss and Cañitas de Felipe Pescador in the state of Zacatecas. He was captured in the Las Americas neighborhood in the city of Aguascalientes during a ground patrol by the Navy. The Navy personnel confiscated 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, a vehicle, three large guns, 12 magazine cartridges, 588 bullets, and two rectangular packages of marijuana, weighing a total of 25 kilograms.
Lastly, a few days later on Sunday, November 11, Navy soldiers observed Zeta cartel members “El Lalo” and “El Checo” exiting a car in Saltillo, Coahuila with large guns, and subsequently apprehended the Zetas. Authorities believe that “El Peluso” used to command these two, and it is unknown who will take over operations in the capital. “El Lalo” and “El Checo” were apprehended with nine guns, two cigarette-like substances, 1,920 bullets, a homemade grenade launcher, a grenade, and a vehicle. The apprehension of the four individuals follows the series Mexican government’s captures in combating the Zeta Cartel, as it shows the previous detentions 10 other Zetas in Nuevo León.
Sources:
“Detiene Semar a presunto jefe de plaza de ‘Los Zetas’ en Coahuila.” Milenio. November 8, 2012.
Agencias. “En Saltillo: detiene la Marina a 2 operadores.” Vanguardia. November 12, 2012.
