Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano
Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano (25 December 1974 – 7 October 2012), commonly referred to by his aliases Z-3 and El Lazca, was a Mexican drug lord and the leader of Los Zetas drug cartel. He was one of the most-wanted Mexican drug lords.
Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 December 1974 |
| Died | 7 October 2012 (aged 37) Progreso, Coahuila, Mexico |
| Cause of death | Ballistic trauma |
| Other names | El Lazca, El Verdugo, Z-3 |
| Occupation | Leader of Los Zetas |
| Organization | Los Zetas |
| Predecessor | Rogelio González Pizaña |
| Successor | Miguel Treviño Morales |
| Opponents |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Mexico |
| Service/ | Mexican Army |
| Years of service | 1991–1998 |
| Unit | Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales |
| Battles/wars | Chiapas conflict |
Lazcano joined the Mexican Army at the age of 17 and later ascended to the Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFE), the Mexican Army special forces. During his tenure in the Mexican Army, Lazcano reportedly received military training from the Israeli Defense Forces and the United States Army, but eventually deserted in 1998, after eight years of service. Upon his desertion, he was recruited by the drug lord Osiel Cárdenas Guillén and Arturo Guzmán Decena with around 30 other soldiers to work as the enforcers of the Gulf Cartel, forming the paramilitary group known as Los Zetas. His torture methods earned him the nickname "El Verdugo" ('The Executioner'), particularly for killing his victims by feeding them to lions and tigers he kept in a ranch.
Lazcano died in a shootout with the Mexican Navy on 7 October 2012. After his death, his body was taken from the funeral home by an armed gang.