Braulio Arellano Domínguez

Braulio Arellano Domínguez (died 4 November 2009) was a Mexican drug trafficker who was one of the founders the Mexican criminal organization known as Los Zetas with other military men in the late 1990s.

Braulio Arellano Domínguez
Died3 November 2009
Soledad de Doblado, Veracruz, Mexico
Cause of deathGunshot wounds
Other namesZ-20
El Gonzo
OrganizationMexican Army (1993–1999)
Los Zetas (1999–2009)
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arellano and the second or maternal family name is Domínguez.

He joined the Mexican Army in 1993, but deserted six years later in June 1999. He was later recruited by the Gulf Cartel to work as an enforcer for the drug trafficking organization's new muscle, Los Zetas. As one of the top leaders of the group, Arellano Domínguez commanded Los Zetas in the coastal state of Veracruz. While operating in the state, he reportedly met with the former state Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán in at least two occasions. Though the information has not been officially confirmed, the accusations against the politician persist.

Following a gunfight with Mexican law enforcement in Soledad de Doblado, Veracruz on 3 November 2009, Arellano Domínguez died from gunshot wound complications. According to the Mexican Navy, the drug lord attempted to defend himself in the shootout with a golden pistol encrusted with diamonds.

Criminal career

Arellano Domínguez joined the Mexican Army on 22 February 1993, but deserted on 21 June 1999 and later joined Los Zetas, the former armed wing of the drug trafficking organization known as the Gulf Cartel, which was headed by the imprisoned Osiel Cárdenas Guillén.[1] Los Zetas is a criminal organization that was formed in the late 1990s and early 2000s by soldiers who left the Mexican military to work as the muscle of the Gulf Cartel.[2] Arellano Domínguez, along with at least 40 other soldiers, is considered one of the original founders of Los Zetas.[3][4] He also served as the cartel's leader in Veracruz state.[5] In order to go undetected by law enforcement, he reportedly hid in Veracruz disguised as a businessman from Córdoba, Veracruz.[6]

Political corruption

According to the testimony of 14 protected witnesses, Arellano Domínguez is alleged to have maintained a some kind of business relationship with former Veracruz Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán. Their first meeting reportedly took place in Chicontepec de Tejeda, where someone captured a picture of the former governor and the drug lord. The second meeting supposedly took place inside a hotel in Coatzacoalcos in 2008.[7][8] There have been many accusations against Herrera Beltrán, who left office in December 2010. Although his term lived a period of relative peace in the state of Veracruz, adversaries have accused him of protecting Los Zetas drug cartel and permitting them to operate in Veracruz. The former governor, however, has "energetically rejected" the accusations.[9]

Death

Infantry soldiers of the Mexican Navy engaged in a shootout with gunmen of Los Zetas in Soledad de Doblado, Veracruz on 3 November 2009, where Arellano Domínguez was critically wounded. On his way to the hospital, however, Arellano Domínguez died from complications from the gunshot wounds.[10] According to Navy reports, Arellano Domínguez had used a golden M1911 pistol encrusted with his aliases El Gonzo and Z-20 in diamonds.[11] In the clash, the authorities confiscated five vehicles, four motorcycles, a MP5 submachine gun, a grenade, four pistols, and seven magazines. They also found several radio communication equipment, three bags of cocaine and pills, and 74,900 pesos (about US$5,909) and US$107.[12][13] Prior to his death, he was regarded by the Office of the General Prosecutor (PGR) as one of the most-wanted Mexican criminals and a top Zeta leader.[13]

Two days after his death, organized crime members killed Casto Acevedo Manzano, a former Mexican Army major and delegate of Public Security in Veracruz. His corpse was mutilated by organized crime members and dumped on a street in Soledad de Doblado.[14][15] Through a written message alongside his corpse, the Gulf Cartel (who at that time worked with Los Zetas) took credit for the execution.[16]

See also

Sources

References
  1. (subscription required) "Muere en Veracruz líder Zeta en tiroteo". El Norte (Monterrey) (in Spanish). Editora El Sol, S.A. de C.V. 4 November 2009. ProQuest 311146877.
  2. Wilkinson, Tracy (4 November 2012). "Cartel occupies state in Mexico". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  3. "El origen de 'Los Zetas': brazo armado del cártel del Golfo". CNNMéxico (in Spanish). Turner Broadcasting System. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. "Matan a otro fundador de zetas". Milenio (in Spanish). 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  5. "Líder de zetas muere en Veracruz tras balacera". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  6. "PGR confirma muerte de líder de Los Zetas en Veracruz". Proceso (in Spanish). 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. Cárdenas, José (15 December 2010). "Lo negro del Negro". Excélsior (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  8. "¿Qué pasa en Veracruz?". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. Stevenson, Mark (15 November 2011). "Felipe Calderon, Mexico President, Says Veracruz 'Left In The Hands Of The Zetas'". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  10. Castillo, Gustavo (4 November 2009). "Tiroteo de zetas con marinos en Veracruz". La Jornada (in Spanish). Desarrollo de Medios, S.A. de C.V. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  11. "Se defiende 'El Z-20' con pistola de oro antes de morir en tiroteo". Terra Networks (in Spanish). 4 November 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  12. "En enfrentamiento muere líder de los "Zetas" en Veracruz". Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City. Notimex. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  13. "Muere en Veracruz líder de 'zetas' en tiroteo con militares". Terra Networks (in Spanish). 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  14. Rivera Mendez, Rocio (1 December 2009). "A cuatro meses de su desaparición, nada se sabe del regidor de Soledad de Doblado". La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  15. "Con honores despiden a jefe policiaco ejecutado en Veracruz". Zócalo Saltillo (in Spanish). November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  16. Ramos, Héctor (8 November 2009). "Encuentran desmembrado a mayor de Sedena". La Prensa (in Spanish). Organización Editorial Mexicana. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
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