New York Times Claims American Authorities Played a Key Role in the Capture of The Zetas Leader

An articles by the New York Times, entitled "Capture of the Mexican Crime Boss Appears to End a Brutal Chapter," alleges that American authorities were involved in the arrest of Miguel Angel Treviño, also known as Z-40. According to the Times, the arrest of the Zetas leader was made by the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) on Monday, July 15 and was "led by Mexican marines but supported with the intelligence from the United States."

"The Mexicans recognized the need for American help, and the two governments began sharing information on Mr. Treviño several months ago, with the Americans passing along word of the birth of Mr. Treviño's child a little more than a month ago," the article stated. 

"The reason they caught him without layers of security and without firing a shot is because he had $2 million in the vehicle and he thought he could buy his way out," Art Fontes, a former F.B.I. official who spent years tracking Mr. Treviño, told reporters Randal C. Archibold and Ginger Thompson.

"American authorities played a key behind-the-scenes role in his (Z-40's) apprehension" and later "confirmed his identity through biometric and DNA tests, according to officials on both sides of the border, who were not authorized to speak publicly on the case," reported the Times.

According to a "senior U.S official", Treviño had made several trips to Nuevo Laredo to visit his newborn child, near the area where he was finally captured. The paper describes the decline of Treviño's career as a "peaceful outcome" that hid from the public the chaos and violence that characterized of Los Zetas cartel.

"The Zetas became a victim of perverse success," the article's reporters alleged. "The danger remains that the splintering of the Zetas will leave smaller, dangerous gangs copying their name and tactics as they continue to extort, kidnap and deal drugs."

The New York Times also interviewed an official who chose to remain anonymous that talked about Peña Nieto's government strategy to fight against organized crime. "A senior American law enforcement official posted along the border, who was not authorized to speak on the record, described a recent meeting with his counterparts in Mexico City. 'What I got from that meeting is that Mexico wants to prove it can handle this fight on its own - or at least on its own terms,' the official said," the article stated. 

Treviño was wanted in the U.S. for drugs and weapons trafficking. So far, the Mexican government has not publicly recognized the U.S. help in capturing the boss of the most dangerous criminal organization in Mexico, according to Proceso.