The 10 Most Dangerous Crime Syndicates in the World

Los Zetas

It was tough to pick just one of Mexico’s many sophisticated and dangerous drug cartels, but Los Zetas made the cut. In 1999, a group of commandos from the Mexican army’s Elite Forces group got together and agreed that there was a lot more money to be made on the other side of the law, so they deserted to join up with the Gulf Cartel as muscle. But these guys were ambitious, so in 2010 they decided to set off on their own, cutting ties with the Cartel to set up shop in Nuevo Laredo, right across the Texas border. What makes the Zetas stand out from their competitors is the sheer gusto they have for violence – while other cartels will sometimes try to find peaceful solutions to problems, the Zetas shoot first and ask questions later. They currently control the drug trade in 11 Mexican states.