The Los Zetas Cartel del Norest faction recently executed two ambushes against Mexican military personnel near the Texas border. In one instance, cartel members reportedly attempted to abduct two soldiers. CDN-Los Zetas has been classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, one of six such cartels.
The first ambush took place Thursday morning on a dirt road in an area between the Coahuila and Nuevo Leon states. An armed group targeted a contingent of Mexican soldiers on patrol.
During this assault, gunmen allegedly injured and seized two soldiers. However, Mexican officials have yet to confirm if the soldiers were indeed taken. The incident triggered a significant response, with state and federal authorities conducting extensive searches for the assailants and any missing personnel. Following the reported abduction, CDN-Los Zetas freed the wounded soldier, who was subsequently taken to a medical facility and is expected to recover.
A second confrontation erupted shortly after 5 PM, also in the countryside, as security forces were already heavily present in response to the first ambush. Authorities managed to kill one gunman, injure another, and apprehend two women during this clash.
This violence comes as CDN-Los Zetas is working to expand its influence into other regions of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. However, this organization has struggled to gain a foothold in Coahuila, with the state’s Attorney General’s Office, alongside local police, actively trying to thwart their entry and seeking out any potential hideouts or operations in the area.
