El Lazca in Proceso

Proceso Magazine No.1750, May 16, 2010.

Article: Desde las entrañas del Ejército... (From the Inside of the Army...)

Author: Ricardo Ravelo

El Lazca is one of Mexico's bloodiest and most powerful drug kingpins, main leader of "Los Zetas" cartel.

"El Lazca" is the nickname of Heriberto Lazcano, an ex military who joined the paramilitary squad "Los Zetas" (the Zs), which was created to protect, and kill the enemies of Osiel Cárdenas, a powerful drug kingpin, nicknamed "El Mata Amigos"--the Friend Killer. (It is creepy to look at his eyes on the following pictures, isn't it?)

Osiel Cárdenas--a former federal police member-- was the leader of powerful "el cártel del Golfo" (the Gulf Cartel) but he was captured in 2003, and then the Zetas, under Lazca's leadership, became not only a paramilitary squad but a real well organized cartel--with its own accountants and business administrators--that currently control drug traffic in 25 Mexican States, and state and municipal police corps in 20 States. Lazca is well known for his liking of violence, betrayal, torture, and discipline. According to the DEA, many Zetas are enrolled from the Mexican army.

In 2007, the Zetas broke up with the Gulf Cartel. This has led to clashes between the two rival cartels, and many murders. Then they made alliances with other cartels: the Beltran Leyva's, Tijuana's and Juarez's.

According to protected witnesses, Lazca lives in Pachuca, in the State of Hidalgo, not far from a military base, which is said to protect him.