The Number #1 ZETA in Coahuila, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon was Captured by the Mexican Military in Saltillo

Carlos Oliva Castillo "La Rana"

John Reed

reportingfrommexico.blogspot.com

Reporing From Mexico - (Saltillo) Earlier today Carlos Olivia Castillo "La Rana", the number #1 Zeta leader in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas was paraded before the press in order to confirm his capture. Once his arrested happened violence broke out through out the city of Saltillo.

For those that were unaware, the Zeta Cartel was founded by former Mexican Special Forces trained in the United States.  They originally provided protection for drug cartels as private mercenaries until they decided to enter the business themselves. As the cartel grew they expanded into other areas of organized crimes, they are mostly known for conducting kidnappings.

The northern state of Coahuila until 2010, except for the city of Torreon, was somewhat calm.  Many people wondered why their neighboring states were so violent such as Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, Durango and Chihuahua, but then Governor Humberto Moreira left his post to become President of the Institucional Revolutionary Party (PRI)and the violence exploded in the state. It was believed that while he was governer there was some sort of business agreement between him and the Zetas that maintained the peace.

If there was ever an agreement, all bets are off as in the following video from Wednesday morning its evident that Saltillo is now a war zone.

I have been several times in Saltillo, it is a beautiful city where once the Spanish ruled, than the Americans and French as well as Revolutionary forces in the last century - now its a fight between the Mexican Military and the Zetas for control of Coahuila's State Capital.