Showdown in Monterrey: La Familia Vs. Los Zetas

Dispatch / The Mexican Drug War / March 6, 2009

By Pancho Montana

La Familia Michoacana appeared around 2006, during the height of the Cartel War, as a result of a zetas takeover strategy in Michoacan and Guerrero. They wanted to take control of the plaza from El Chapo and his regional allies, the Valencias. Their plan was to make the population believe that the zetas are protectors of the people. To convince the locals that they needed protection, the zetas decided to raise some hell. So they recruited kaibiles and Michoacan natives as narco grunts to wipe the zone of any Pelones, the sicarios working for the Beltran Leyvas. The bloodier the cleaning, the better.

Then launched a serious media campaign with menacing newspaper ads and stories, and liberally dispersed the infamous narcomensajes, or drug messages, left on executed rivals. To add to the psychological warfare, they started the decapitation trend (but one could argue that the Beltran sicarios were first to have the, umm, honor of introducing this fine practice).

Regardless of who gets the credit, I remember the first time I heard about this on the news. It was shocking stuff. A narcos commando entered a bar and threw some severed heads on the floor. Right then I realized that such flair can’t be good. High-impact crime like this attracts too much attention from the outside.

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The real problems started with the backstabbing and double-dealing. The local muscle didn’t want to be pushed around and started doing things their own way. And guess what? These dudes turned out to be way worse the zetas. That’s when the turf war started for real.

La FM allied itself with El Chapo Guzman organization. This worked out well because the chapos were already in the market for some muscle, or cannon fodder, depending how you look at it.

This was around June 2008. After that the zetas and the FM, now backed by the El Chapos started battling for territory. This was in Edomex mainly, about 150 km from Mexico City. For a while, it looked like La FM’s forces were gonna be exterminated for good, and that’s one of the reasons they chose to cozy up with the Guzmans.

At the end of last year, their dispute made international headlines when somebody sold out a big-time Zeta/Gulf Cartel operative. He was captured at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, but because he was the owner of a soccer team in the 3rd Division that was playing a game there, the Army decided to arrest the ENTIRE team along with him! That kind of action beats gringo football half-time shows any day, if you ask me. They were all taken to SIEDO installations and were later released after questioning. The team was called Mapaches (racoons) de Nueva Italia, based in Michoacan. The Mexican federation of Football banned and disbanded the team after this little episode.

Well, back in Monterrey, the Chapo/FM alliance started making their first big incursions a few weeks after that. In November 2008, during Revolution Day celebrations, they started firing shots in the air from all over the city to cause panic and spread fear. They wanted people to think that all hell was breaking loose.

But it wasn’t such a big deal. The authorities dismissed it (or maybe covered it up) as an attempted resistance to a mixed Army/Federal anti-narcos operation they were carrying out at the time in one of the neighborhoods. Who knows what actually happened. It’s all shadows and rumors out here.

But the El Chapos and La FM are still going at it, trying to chip away at the Gulf Cartel and their zetas enforcers. Like I said, there hasn’t been any serious clashes, yet. But word on the street has it they have been scouting political parties they can fund and turn into their little lapdogs. It’s their way of infiltrating the local scene, by funneling money and people into Goverment positions to win influence and support.

So it makes sense that they are picking election season to come blasting into town now. The elections are going to be interesting, that’s for sure. I told you as much in my last dispatch. I just didn’t anticipate the action was gonna be happening right where I live.

For now, only time will tell if the El Chapo/La FM alliance is gonna be able wedge itself into Monterrey. Regardless, Los Zetas and the Mexican Army are now both using Monterrey as their operating base and squaring off against each other. With La FM getting into the mix, it’s gonna be a three-way battle that you won’t wanna miss. And things are just starting to get close to the boiling point.

Pancho Montana is an eXiled Special Mexican War on Drugs Correspondent.

As a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, located in northern Mexico, Mr. Montana lives in Gulf Cartel territory. That means the streets belong to the Zetas, a paramilitary organization trained by the Yankees and hired by the Gulf Cartel to keep things civilized and business booming. Read his last dispatch: Calling Bullshit on Gringo Travel Advisories.

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49 Comments

Add your own

1. homer | March 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
mexican weed is the worst shit in the world … even when it’s “good shit” it’s still basically dirt.
2. Johnny Rico | March 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
I don’t get it. Why are you driving around with a stash of weed in your car while there are military teams on every corner? is this your way of not getting into trouble. For Pete’s sake, you are living in the middle of a drug war. That can’t be smart.
Who’s side are you on anyway? Isn’t the army trying to protect you in a sense? What kind of message is getting caught with dope going to send?
3. happyhead | March 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
What the hell is a “Mexican”? Do they all write like this?
4. Joe Blow | March 6th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
message? wtf?
I don’t think he’s sending any “message”.
They were driving around smoking pot. To accomplish the first part you need a car and to accomplish the second part you need a bag of weed.
Its not that hard!
5. aleke | March 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Aw fuck thanks alot naysayers, now I can’t keep up worth shit.
That being said, keep writing man. This stuff is more precious than white china heroin
6. mx? | March 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
cuernos is short for cuernos de chivo, its the nickname narcos gave the good old AK47 because its curved magazine resembled a goats horn.
7. mx? | March 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
The revolution day shootouts wherent made on Nov.2008 it was a few weeks ago, during the last days of the “narcoblockades”
8. homer | March 6th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
@ Johnny Rico
“I don’t get it. Why are you driving around with a stash of weed in your car while there are military teams on every corner?”
For the same reason that you put the beer between your lap when you see a cop while driving. And you’re right! You don’t get it and never will.
9. Roger Dodger | March 7th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Definitely the War Nerd. Appropriating and misusing the native slang is his hallmark.
10. pj | March 7th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Yep, this latest one convinced me that this is the same writer as the “War Nerd”. I’m not complaining though, I missed his columns, glad he’s back, whoever he is.
11. dirty harry | March 7th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I’d take his comments about not being the War Nerd a lot more seriously if these “Pancho Montana” reports didn’t appear rite around the same time Brechers reports stopped.
12. Johnny Rico | March 8th, 2009 at 1:49 am
@homer
You are a fucking idiot. I grew up in Mexico. I’ve been through plenty of roadblocks.
I don’t need to put the beer between my legs, my car has a cupholder, douchebag.
13. Mr. Wiggles | March 8th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Viva El Dolanerd! Not your most focused column, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Note, you should capitalize the Z in Zeta – it’s a proper noun.
More first hand interviews would be good. I’ve traveled with narcotraficantes in southern Mexico and they always have good stories. Especially when you get into still-existing tribal rivalries between Zapotec and Mixtec etc.
14. Clarkson | March 9th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
to all the people that “just can’t believe” he had weed in the car: (a) legal to possess small amounts of MaryJane in Mexico, and (b) the military presence is NOT there to bust a couple guys with a joint, and (c) you have obviously never dealt with the cops in Mexico.
Don’t get it ? Come down here, and you will. Until then, keep your stupid confusion to yourself.
15. WinBingo | March 11th, 2009 at 7:41 am
this is a real war, worst than Irak.
16. Hondah | March 12th, 2009 at 7:46 am
this is a Madness!
17. Kotek Besar | March 17th, 2009 at 5:11 am
How many countries has America pushed to the brink of civil war recently? Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti, and Mexico…
18. cuernos | March 25th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
mexican weed is the worst, yet, that’s what most of america smokes. let me guess, you’re smoking primo shit from the green lands of iceland and it is filtered through some magical unicorns ass to give it a crystalized look right? pffft keep dreaming. you smoking the same shit as everyone else fuck face
19. jabuhrer | March 26th, 2009 at 9:02 am
“mexican weed is the worst, yet, that’s what most of america smokes.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That is hilarious. Jeez, how clueless can you be?
20. Balija | April 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Men Yall stupid Mexican Drug Dealers drive around the city because thats their job they are looking for rivals and they are doing missions dont you F* get it they have weed because thats what they smoke they dont give a fuck about military because they will front them, yeah mexican weed sucks yeah because you havent smoke the good stuff you dumb head.
and btw if you dont know shit dont write you stupid ass hole.
21. JASMIN | May 4th, 2009 at 7:14 am
PINCHE VIEJO PENDEJO PARA QUE PONES STA POINCHE PAJINA SI VIEN SABES A TE VAN A MATAR HIJO DE TU PUTA MADRE VIEJO STUPIDO
P.S.LOSER
22. sasha | May 5th, 2009 at 6:45 am
ur a stupid ass hole bitch ur talking about my family.so stop writing or delete this stupid page or else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
23. Maggie | May 29th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I am curious. I keep hearing people theorize that Mexican authorities are striking hard at the La Familia and Gulf guys, particularly recently at La Familia to get them and whichever politicians are associated with them totally out of the picture. The next ones on the list will be the Gulf cartel, which will leave the Sinaloa (Pacific) cartel in control, which will be protected by the Mex Army. People who believe this theory cite that it was very curious that El Teo just walked away a few months ago, reporters at Zeta said he was escorted out of La Mision area by Federal Police.
Is this just a far fetched wacky theory floating around? Was is your take on it?
Thxs,
Maggie
24. junior culiacan | September 20th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
u cant fuck with the cartel of sinaloa….especially the leader el mayo zambada…
25. monri | October 19th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Its funny how this dumb fukn kid tells the story as if it was something to be proud of. He is obviously misinformed and high… that being said I have lived in all the main borders of Mexico (Matamoros, Reynosa, Tijuana, Mexicali, etc…) and its nothing to brag or be proud of the country is made a mess and its depressing to see people live in fear and the authorities have little or no power against this terrorist. Mexico is a beautiful country and the people in it are very welcoming and good people its sad that a couple of thugs (manosos) give us such a bad reputation.
26. Sur13-Ghost | January 26th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
soooo…what up……cuz. I say cuz cuz u no how uz crips b doin it….oh snap…guess I used some slang so I’m a crip now….guess he spelled a 10 letter word right….journalist….spellchecker…or an ip coming from bell south, san diego ca trying to make people think he’s anything but real? Let’s let the people decide!
27. elvato | January 27th, 2010 at 6:41 am
fuck crips
28. Tuznaz | January 27th, 2010 at 7:14 am
Dude you are full of shit! The people are happy of the military presence. Only Nacos oops I mean Narcos are pissed because their heads are being blown off by the soldiers.
What colonia are you in anyways?
29. P-wEE713 | February 26th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
PURO REYNOSA TAMAULIPAS CULEROS!! ORGULLO DE LA FRONTERA ARRIVA EL NORTE ALA VERGA TODOS LOS INDIOS Y COCHOS MAMAVERGAS DEL SUR!
30. watever | March 29th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
hahahahahaha arriva michoacan!!!!!!
31. FBI | May 19th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
This is propaganda from edgar valdez villareal a ruthless hitman working for the sinaloa cartel headed by Juaquin Guzman Loera aka El Chapo, El Chapo Guzman.
32. LATINA-MICHOACANA | August 23rd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
MOST OF YOU HATERZ ARE FUCKEN STUPID!
I REALLY DONT GET WHY WHITE POPLE HATE ON MEXICAN DRUG DEALERS.. 1st OF ALL YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT BUY THE DRUG AND STILL YOU BITCHING IT TASTE LIKE SHIT.. YOU HATERZ SHOULD STEP UP AND GROW YOUR OWN WEED AN MAYBE US MEXICANS WILL STOP BRING OUR “SHIT” INTO YOUR COUNTRY 2nd FEDERAL POLICE AND ALL OTHER PLOICE IN MEXICO PLAY A BIG ROLE WITH THE FAMILIA AND LOS ZETAS, THEY GET PAID TO KEEP THEIR MOUTHS CLOSE, WHO WOULDNT WANT SOME EXTRA MONEY?? AND 3rd PEOPLE DRIVE AROUND WITH NOT ONLY A STASH BUT WITH POUNDS OF WEED WHY?? BECAUSE POLICE DONT CARE!!! IF YOU GET COUGHT ALL YOU DO IS GIVE THEM MONEY AND THEY BACK THE FUCK OFF!!
33. antonio | August 31st, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Fuck los Zetas and all these fucks who ruin lives
34. Michoacan | August 31st, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Viva La Familia Michoacan. Fuck the rest.
35. zerra | September 1st, 2010 at 9:52 am
pinche raza pendeja poreso nunca abansaremos en este paiz. meda pena ser mex. enla pinche bandera tienen que poner 2 aguilas mex dandose madrasos y la aguila de estados unidos riendose. lla ni la chingan
36. sur | October 11th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
puro michoacan putos!!!!!!!!!!!
37. 209 sureno | October 12th, 2010 at 7:40 am
puro 209 sur13 for lif…fuck busters
38. Emiliano Pardo | October 27th, 2010 at 5:13 am
I really think everone on dis Fukn page is retarted Da only one dats sounds like she got some sense is zerra aveses me da pena decir que soy de Michoacan Nueva Italia porque pinche raza tan simples y cerrados nunca vamos a yegar a ser nada !!!!
39. playboys 13 gaxg | October 28th, 2010 at 7:23 am
puro playboys gaxg fuck the rest….sur 13 209 stocktowx
40. La Patrona | November 11th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Puro FM!!hehe.. Y ariba todos los cochos de Guerrero!!
41. La Patrona | November 11th, 2010 at 11:55 am
HEY and keep us updated on wats new over there! yo aki radicando de Orange County,Ca …
42. yusuf | December 9th, 2010 at 12:22 am
ALLOHU AKBAR
43. yurianabernal | January 28th, 2011 at 6:57 am
no manchen q gachos son con la pobre gente ellos no tienen la culpa dejen de estar matando a la gente x favor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
44. yurianabernal | January 28th, 2011 at 7:00 am
Puro Monterrey Nuevo Leon BABAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
45. gadriela | January 30th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
ay micha familia que no tiene la culpa de lo que esta pasaando…… =[
46. Mayra | February 18th, 2011 at 8:19 am
l0S ZETAS M0RE LiKE L0S J0T0S S0N UN PAR dE PENdEJ0S. Wh0 ThE fUCC ThEY THiNK ThEY ARE KiLLiNG PE0PLE.d0NT ThEY CARE iF ThEY hAVE KidS, fAMILY?? WTF iS ThERE PR0bLEM PiNChES PARR dE PUTOZ. ThE GOV. WiLL hAVE ThE LAST LAUGh iN THiS SHiT.ALL Y0Uh M0ThERfUCCRS ARE GUNNA R0T iN HELL fUCNN PAN0ChAS.WhAT iF PE0PLE Did S0ME 0FF ThAT SHiT T0 Y0UhR fAMiLY. h0W ThE fUCC W0ULd Y0Uh fEEL.ANd ThATS 0N ThE REAL.. fUCCC ALL Y0Uh ZETAS.
47. REALIST | March 16th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
ONe MINUTE, ALL THOSE ´´SURENOS´´ CYBER BANGING STAY OF THE FAKE. THERE AIT NO OTHER ORGANIZATION LIKE THE FAMILIA MICHOACANA PUTTING IN REAL WORK. I DONT NEED TO TALK SHIT ON WHAT THEY DO THERE ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEM SELFS. SO TO ALL THOSE LITTLE U.S.A GANGS PLEASE STOP SHAMING YOUR SELF. 70 PERCENT OF ALL PRISONERS ARE NOW P.C.´S JAJAJAJAJA
48. motorfirebox | August 26th, 2011 at 1:35 am
50+ dead in Monterrey today. Pancho?
49. el bandalero | October 11th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
It’s sad people support child killers. These same people who shoot up schools and barrios to send a message. In Puerto Rico cartels(Cartel Leaders) proudly kill child and woman killers taking examples from The Godfathers aka La Me the Mexican Mafia. Remember anybody can kill with a gun. I takes real menn to fight with there fist.
EL Bandalero Security Forcer U.S. Air Force. No Hay Pa’ Nadie Pa!!!!!