Decades-Long Prison Sentence for High-Ranking Mexican Cartel Member in Texas

Recently, a former cartel boss received a prison sentence of over 30 years for his role in a massive drug-trafficking conspiracy along the Texas-Mexico border.

Mexican Cartel Boss in Texas

Eleazar Medina-Rojas, 53, allegedly relied on violence to advance the ranks of the Mexican cartel group Los Zetas, eventually achieving the title of plaza boss.

His key role was to ensure a steady flow of cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. across the border, according to Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

Medina-Rojas also spent four years overseeing the smuggling of over 3,000 tons of illegal narcotics into Texas from the southern border. His involvement in Los Zetas spans back nearly 20 years at least, but he was finally caught and arrested for his crimes in July 2023.

Through use of violence, often involving the use of weapons, Medina-Rojas allegedly enforced protection along drug routes, including defending their shipments and territory from rival drug trafficking groups.

He was personally responsible for importing over 1,000 pounds of cocaine and nearly 200,000 pounds of marijuana, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Eleazar Medina-Rojas will serve over 31 years in prison for conspiring to distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana. In addition to the three decades in prison, he will also have to pay a forfeiture of $26.5 million.

Who Are the Los Zetas?

The Los Zetas are a criminal organization comprised mainly of former Mexican military officers in the Tamaulipas region along the Gulf Coast. The group was believed to be created back in the late 90s when military officers deserted their positions and began enforcing the laws of the Gulf Cartel.

At one point, Los Zetas were Mexico's largest drug cartel, taking up more territory of the country than any other. Now, the group has diminished quite a bit, with many portions splitting into smaller groups.