US Extradition of 'Z-40,' Former Zetas Leader, Suspended by Federal Judge

Borderland Beat Contributors

A Mexican federal judge approved a motion preventing the US extradition of former Zetas leader Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, also known as El Z-40. Although Z40 was arrested in Mexico over 10 years ago, authorities have been unable to extradite him to the U.S. His extradition process has been filled with motions, suspensions, and delays.

Following his departure from the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 ("Altiplano"), Mexico's maximum-security prison, Z40 was relocated to another facility in Tepic, Nayarit, last week. As per court records, Z40 faces charges related to mass killings in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, and Allende, Coahuila. In the US, he is wanted for international drug trafficking as the former head of Los Zetas.

If Z40 is extradited to the US, he would be the highest-ranking Zetas member to stand trial in the US. Notable figures in this regard include early Zetas members Jaime Gonzalez Duran (alias El Hummer) and Jesus Enrique Rejon Aguilar (alias El Mamito), and Z40's relatives Juan Francisco Treviño Jr. (alias El Kiko) and Juan Gerardo Trevino Chavez (alias El Huevo).

Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, alias Z-40 or Zeta 40 (image credit: HEARST)

Background

According to the DEA's website, which has not been updated his arrest in Mexico, Z40 led a Zetas faction with control over more than 200 operatives. His responsibilities included overseeing the collection of "tariffs" (piso) at drug plazas managed by the former co-organization of the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas in Mexico.

During the period from 2006 to 2007, Z40 served as the Nuevo Laredo plaza boss, subsequently being assigned to the state of Veracruz, in March 2007 following the death of Efrain Teodoro Torres (alias El Efra or Z-14).

Z40 was reputedly involved in smuggling multi-hundred kilogram loads of cocaine weekly from Mexico to the United States and facilitated the trafficking of cocaine through Guatemala to the United States. He faces charges in a 2008 Federal indictment in the District of Columbia.

Z40 was arrested in July 2013 and has been in extradition hearings ever since.

Various members of Z40's family became entangled in criminal activities. His brother Omar Alejandro Treviño Morales (alias "Z-42") was a high-ranking Zetas leader; his brother José was implicated in laundering money for Los Zetas in the United States, utilizing a horse-breeding company as a front. Jose's activities were exposed and resulted in their capture following a raid on US territory in 2012.

If Z40 is extradited, he may be advised by his attorneys to cooperate with and provide cartel intel to US federal authorities for a soother sentence and avoid life in prison. However, Z40 was arrested over a decade ago and the information he has on cartels may not be as valuable for US investigators anymore. This may mean that his chances of receiving leniency are likely lower than other Zetas leaders who testified in US courtrooms before him.

Imprisonment in Mexico

In October 2016, prison officials got word that Z40 and his brother Z42 were planning to escape from Altiplano, the prison they were currently held in. Their plan involved creating an "artificial operation" (likely a prison riot) that distracted some of the guards while other corrupted guards opened the main door of the prison so the brothers could simply walk out.

Later in 2016, in Altiplano prison, Z40 allegedly encountered Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) figure José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz, alias "La Vaca", another inmate.

Z40 and La Vaca, evidently, did not get along and their friction led to Z40 threatening to kill Vaca. Vaca took this threat seriously, informing his relatives and subordinates about Z40's words. Luckily for La Vaca though, Z40 was transferred out of Altiplano in May 2017 - before he got a chance to kill La Vaca. But the threat still hung heavy over La Vaca - he knew that inmates loyal to Z40 would still have it out for him.

In December 2019, hitmen loyal to Z40 attempted to stop his prison transfer convoy as it traveled on highway 175 through Oaxaca. Their attack left a State Investigation Agency (AEI) captain dead but failed to free Z40.

These incidents above, and others not mentioned in this report, have worried some Mexican authorities that Z40 could potentially escape from prison. He has been transferred between the various federal prisons in Mexico several times, as part of "a precautionary inmate rotation program."

Sources: Milenio; El Financiero; DOS; Borderland Beat archives