“El Amarillo”, former leader of Los Zetas, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the Altiplano

Mauricio Guizar Cardenasbetter known in the drug trade as “Yellow”was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his criminal activities while he was the leader of the Cartel of The Zetas.

The available reports specify that “El Amarillo” came to impose itself at the head of the criminal group of several states in the south-east of the countryincluding Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Quintana Roo and Campeche.

Specifically, Guízar Cárdenas was convicted for his foray into the crime of organized crime in its modality of crimes against health. The conviction was obtained thanks to the joint participation of the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR), through the prosecutor specializing in organized crime (FEMDO), in coordination with the Specialized Prosecutor for Regional Control (FECOR), in its delegation of the State of Mexico.

“El Amarillo” was captured by the Secretary of the Navy in July 2012 in the city of Puebla. During his capture, the authorities seized an unknown quantity of drugs from him, as well as a submachine gun, a anti tank warfare rocket launcher and pomegranates.

Guízar Cárdenas, also known as “El Gordo”, has been identified as a collaborator of Omar Trevino Morales, “The Z-42”who took charge of Los Zetas in 2013 after the capture of his brother, Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, aka “Z-40”.

It should be noted that on September 20, 2022, a 20-year sentence had already been pronounced against Guízar Cárdenas. However, the former criminal boss and his legal defense have filed a call with the aim that the judicial authorities annul the judgment.

After an evaluation of the case, the sentence was ratified, so “El Amarillo” will remain at the Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation (Cefereso) Number 1 “Altiplano”in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico, where he has been transferred since Semar completed his capture.

Los Zetas emerged in the late 1990s as the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel before the desire to Osiel Cardenas Guillen create their own army. The military training of those who joined the ranks of this criminal cell, as well as the fall of some leaders of the organization, were the optimal conditions for Los Zetas to start fighting over territory.

One of the aspects that made this criminal group the most feared in the country from its inception until around 2012, was the brutality with which they perpetrated their crimes.

Two of the most tragic episodes in Mexico’s recent history are recorded in its rich and violent history: the San Fernando Massacre in 2010 and the Allende Massacre in 2011.

The first, also calledMassacre of 72took place in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, between August 22 and 23, 2010 in the ejido of El Huizachal, just over 100 kilometers from the border with the United States.

On this occasion, Los Zetas executed 72 migrants (58 men and 14 women) from behind, piled up their bodies and left them in the open air. Investigations revealed that the victims were kidnapped and, after refusing to work for the cartel, were murdered.

On the other hand, according to a report by the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), he March 18, 2011 a group of at least 60 hitmen from Los Zetas attacked the municipality of Allende, in Coahuila.

His goal was to find Luis Garza Gaytan, a former cartel collaborator who had been accused of being a traitor. Garza Gaytán, along with two other people, sold information about the criminal organization to the US government and fled the country.

Faced with this situation, the men of the cartel enter Allende (where relatives and close friends of their “traitors” lived) and order the Municipal Police to ignore all calls for help.

The Commission’s document indicates that between 18 and 20 March 2011 there were multiple violent burglaries at the homes of residents, hired killers they destroyed 32 properties and dozens of people were deprived of their liberty. Official data on file indicates that at least 26 residents were executed.