Amid the stunning baroque architecture and rich silver-mining history of Zacatecas, a grim reality has taken hold, one defined by the brutal conflict between Mexico's most powerful transnational criminal organizations. The state has become a principal battleground, and the horrific violence, including incidents described as the "Zacatecas flaying," serves as a stark testament to the strategic importance of this territory in the national drug trade. These acts are not random savagery but calculated psychological warfare, designed to terrorize rivals, intimidate the public, and challenge the authority of the Mexican state, leaving a trail of trauma and a desperate search for the true story behind the headlines.
To understand the extreme violence gripping Zacatecas, one must first understand its geography. The state is a logistical nexus, a "crossroads" state where major federal highways converge, connecting the Pacific coast ports, the U.S. border, and major metropolitan centers. Control of Zacatecas means control over lucrative trafficking routes for fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit goods flowing north. For years, this territory was relatively stable under the dominion of older cartels, but the landscape shifted dramatically with the aggressive expansion of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), led by the infamous Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho."
The CJNG's push into Zacatecas brought it into direct, bloody conflict with the established power, the Sinaloa Cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel, however, is not a monolithic entity. Following the capture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the organization fractured into competing factions, primarily one led by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and another by Guzmán's sons, known as "Los Chapitos." This internal fragmentation has complicated the conflict, creating a multi-front war where allegiances are fluid and violence is the primary means of communication.
Key Factions in the Conflict:
- Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG): Known for its rapid expansion and extreme brutality, the CJNG employs military-style tactics and a sophisticated propaganda machine to seize territory. Their goal is to establish dominance over the key transport corridors that crisscross Zacatecas.
- Sinaloa Cartel (Mayo Zambada Faction): The traditional power in the region, this faction seeks to defend its long-held territory against the CJNG incursion. It often operates with a more established, less ostentatious approach than its rivals.
- Sinaloa Cartel (Los Chapitos Faction): This younger, more aggressive wing of the Sinaloa Cartel is also vying for control, sometimes leading to clashes not only with the CJNG but also with other Sinaloan factions.
The term "Zacatecas flaying" refers to specific, highly publicized acts of torture and mutilation that have been filmed and disseminated by cartels on social media platforms like Telegram, Twitter, and various gore-focused websites. These videos are a core component of a sophisticated strategy of narco-propaganda. The true story behind these events is not just about murder; it is about sending a clear and terrifying message.
Security analysts emphasize that the objective of such extreme violence is threefold:
1. To Terrorize Rivals: By showcasing their capacity for unimaginable cruelty, cartels like the CJNG aim to demoralize their enemies. The message is simple: "This is what will happen to you if you oppose us." It is a tool for psychological attrition, intended to break the will of opposing sicarios (hitmen) and their commanders.
2. To Intimidate the Civilian Population: Widespread fear is a tool for territorial control. When the local populace is terrified, they are less likely to cooperate with law enforcement, report criminal activity, or resist cartel governance. This creates a vacuum of authority that the cartels are eager to fill, imposing their own brand of order through extortion, kidnapping, and coercion.
3. To Challenge the State: By committing atrocities and publicizing them, cartels directly challenge the Mexican government's monopoly on violence. They demonstrate that the state is incapable of protecting its citizens, thereby undermining its legitimacy. This was evident in an incident in January 2022, when 10 bodies were left in an abandoned vehicle in front of the governor's office in the Zacatecas state capital, a brazen act of defiance.
Ioan Grillo, a journalist and author specializing in Latin American crime, has noted the performative nature of this violence. He has explained that these acts are a form of "terror marketing," where the brutality itself becomes the brand. The specific methods of torture and execution become a signature, a calling card for a particular cartel, designed to be as shocking and memorable as possible. The act of flaying, with its deep historical and symbolic connotations of stripping away identity and life, is employed precisely for its visceral and psychological impact.
## The Human Cost: Beyond the Graphic HeadlinesWhile the focus often remains on the cartels, the true victims of this dark history are the people of Zacatecas. The state's homicide rate has skyrocketed, making it one of the most violent regions in Mexico. In 2021, Zacatecas registered the highest homicide rate in the country, a grim statistic that reflects the intensity of the ongoing war.
The violence extends far beyond homicides. Forced disappearances have become a devastatingly common tactic. Cartels forcibly recruit young men and boys to serve as cannon fodder in their turf wars. Those who refuse, or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, are often "disappeared." This leaves families in a state of perpetual anguish, unable to mourn and desperate for answers. Entire communities, particularly in rural areas like Jerez and Valparaíso, have become ghost towns as residents flee the violence, leaving behind their homes, land, and livelihoods.
The state's response has been to militarize the conflict further. The deployment of thousands of soldiers and members of the National Guard is a common sight. While this can lead to temporary dips in violence, security experts argue it often fails to address the root causes of the problem, such as corruption, poverty, and weak judicial institutions. As one local official anonymously stated to a news outlet, "They send in the troops, and things quiet down for a month. But the cartels just wait. They know the soldiers can't stay forever. The problem is still here."
## The Evolution of Cartel BrutalityThe dark history of cartel violence in Mexico has seen a clear and disturbing evolution. While older organizations in the 1980s and 1990s focused primarily on the business of drug trafficking and often sought to maintain a low profile, the paradigm shifted with the rise of Los Zetas in the early 2000s. Formed by deserters from the Mexican Army's special forces, Los Zetas introduced a new level of military-grade violence and sadistic cruelty into the criminal underworld. They were pioneers in using beheadings and online videos as tools of terror.
The CJNG, which emerged from a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, has adopted and perfected the Zetas' playbook. They combine hyper-violence with a sophisticated social media presence, creating a powerful brand built on fear. The events in Zacatecas are a direct continuation of this trend. The goal is no longer simply to control a drug route but to achieve total territorial subjugation through a campaign of terror that leaves no room for opposition.
Understanding the "Zacatecas flaying" and similar events requires looking beyond the immediate horror. It means recognizing these acts for what they are: calculated instruments of war in a complex conflict over territory, resources, and power. The true story is one of a state and its people caught in the crossfire of a brutal war, where the lines between combatant and civilian are deliberately blurred and where terror is the most potent weapon. The struggle for peace in Zacatecas is not just a fight against criminals; it is a battle for the very soul of the community, waged against a backdrop of fear and uncertainty.
