Zetas Founder Killed, Corpse Stolen

Top Zetas drug cartel leader, Heriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano, was killed yesterday during a shoot-out between marines and the Zetas cartel, reports have confirmed—and now his body has been stolen by an armed gang. The corpse had been handed over to local authorities and was being stored at a funeral parlor in Northern Mexico on Monday, when the gang raided the building and stole the body. Still, Lazcano's death is a major victory for Mexico, as the Zetas cartel, which Lazcano helped found, is responsible for some of the country’s bloodiest massacres and largest jail breaks. Lazcano, aka “El Verdugo” (meaning "the Executioner"), is suspected in hundreds of murders, and under his leadership, the Zetas transformed from a small group of assassins into an elite army group. They were also the first group to publicly display their beheaded rivals, earning them a reputation for brutality. But even with Lazcano dead, Mexico’s problems are far from over; leadership of the Zetas would likely be taken over by Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, who is known for being even more brutal and ruthless than Lazcano.