Structure of a Transnational Criminal Network: 'Los Zetas' and the Smuggling of Hydrocarbons

Mexico is currently one of the most important hotspots of criminal activity with effects in the Western Hemisphere. In this criminal dynamic, the Sinaloa Cartel, The Gulf Cartel, “La Familia Michoacana”, “The Knights Templar” and “Los Zetas” are some of the most relevant criminal networks that originated in Mexico, but currently reach and operate in different countries across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. While the operations of criminal networks inside of Mexico are severely violent, outside of Mexico their operations mainly consist of smuggling, transportation and distribution of illegal drugs, and other such activities. “Los Zetas”, initially created out of former elite army soldiers, was the armed wing of the criminal network known as the “Gulf Cartel” [Cartel del Golfo] at the beginning of the present century. However, very quickly “Los Zetas” began operating as an independent criminal network, currently challenging the Gulf Cartel for control of trafficking routes and “plazas”, meaning gaining local power in municipalities. Bearing this in mind, in this paper we present and discuss a model of a transnational criminal structure of “Los Zetas”.