The leader of the Los Zetas cartel, Alejandro "Omar" Trevino Morales, who had a US$5 million bounty on his head by the U.S. Drug Enforcement and a MXN30-million about (US$2 million) reward for information on his arrest, was finally captured Wednesday by the Mexican police.

Morales, who is also known as "Zeta 42," was arrested during a raid at a house in Calle Capellania in the exclusive Fuentes del Valle district located at San Pedro Garza Garcia, the richest town in Latin America.  He reportedly did not resist arrest.

Like Us on Facebook

Morales took over the helm of Los Zetas after his brother, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales or "Zeta 40" was earlier arrested on the border between Nuevo Leon and Coahuila states. It also followed the capture of another drug cartel head, Servando Gomez Martinez, who leads central Mexico's Knights Templar. 

The Los Zetas cartel, which controls a major portion of north east of Mexico, is considered as the second largest organized crime syndicate in the area, next to Sinaloa Cartel. Formed in 2010 as a breakaway faction of the Gulf cartel, the Zetas reportedly became one of the most effective of all cartels, with their influence reaching even the United States.

Political observers say the arrest of Omar could spark a new wave of violence since he has no known successor and junior operatives may try to take control. Additionally, the Zetas could be open to attacks from rival cartels like Sinaloa Cartel and the CGNJ, also known as "Mata Zetas," or Kill the Zetas.

For Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, the capture of Morales could be excellent news since he had taken on steps to revitalize the country's fight against organized crime.

Tagsdrug cartel, Mexico, Omar Morales, Alejandro Morales