14 DAY TRIAL // A communications network allegedly belonging to the infamous Mexican drug cartel known as the Zetas was taken down by military troops as a result of a one-year investigation.
According to In Sight, 1,400 radios, 2,600 cell phones, tons of computing equipment and solar panels were seized during a raid made by the Mexican army troops.
A statement from the Ministry of National Defense reveals that the network they took down was spread across Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi states. It seems as the infrastructure allowed criminal groups to disrupt the communication systems used by authorities, but also to make sure they could change locations before being intercepted.
Even though it’s not one hundred percent certain if in fact the Zetas were using the equipment, they’re known to operate extensively in the areas where the bust took place.
In November, a similar operation was conducted by the Mexican army, when they managed dismantled a large communications network that was suspected of belonging to the same group.
Not long ago, members of Anonymous Mexico declared war against the criminal cartel after one of their members was kidnapped. The hacktivists, however, quickly had a change of heart after they saw the implications of such an attack against those who don’t fight their battles with keyboards, but with guns and swords.
At the time, Anonymous Mexico played a game of cat and mouse, each day reviewing their position and their plans to attack the cartel. Finally, after the Zetas released the prisoner, the hackers went back to fighting against the government instead of the drug lords, fearing that many innocent bloggers and online activists would suffer the consequences.
The Zetas are feared all over Mexico, many bloggers and activist who threatened to unmask their operations being found hanged or decapitated.