The head of the Zetas cartel was just arrested in one of Mexico City's poshest neighborhoods


Mexican authorities just nabbed one of their most wanted criminals in an unlikely place.
The Associated Press reported Friday that Jose Maria Guizar Valencia, the head of the notorious Zetas drug cartel, was arrested Thursday in Roma, one of Mexico City's more lush and gastronomically rich neighborhoods. Guizar Valencia's presence in posh Roma is surprising, given that the Zetas are known to operate mostly out of southeastern Mexico, far from the more central Mexico City.
Mexican authorities would not reveal their suspect's exact identity, but an unnamed source confirmed to AP that the suspect in question was the Zetas' leader. Guizar Valencia, who is a dual Mexican-American citizen, has been a person of interest to Mexican and U.S. law enforcement for several years and the U.S government had a $5 million reward out for his arrest, AP says. The U.S. has also reportedly asked for Guizar Valencia's extradition.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Guizar Valencia climbed to power within the Zetas cartel in the last few years, Business Insider reports, and reportedly controlled the majority of their smuggling and trafficking operations in the southern states of Veracruz, Tabasco, and Chiapas. Former Drug Enforcement Administration chief of international operations Mike Vigil predicted to Business Insider that Guizar Valencia's arrest would "probably cripple Zetas' ability to smuggle drugs through southern Mexico."
The Zetas cartel is infamous for carrying out gruesome acts of violence. The high-profile arrest, Al Jazeera explains, is part of ongoing efforts to "fight a recent surge in homicides" in Mexico. Roughly 25,000 people were killed in the country last year — many as casualties of Mexico's war on drug trafficking.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published