back to article Mexican Zetas ENSLAVING engineers to run crimelords' radio net

Engineers are being kidnapped in Mexico, not for ransom but to build and maintain Los Zetas' radio network, as criminal gangs need reliable connectivity just like everyone else. InSight Crime reports on the spate of kidnappings, which haven't resulted in the usual ransom demands and do seem to have been targeting engineers …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Savagery

    Is it related to proximity to the Tropics?

    1. Tom 38
      Facepalm

      Re: Savagery

      No, proximity to the most profitable illegal drugs market in the world. Yay for prohibition!

      1. Peter Murphy

        Re: Savagery

        Drugs and corruption. It's hard to stamp out the Cartels when there's so many Mexican police paid to tip them off, or to look the other way.

    2. easyk

      Re: Savagery

      The Norsemen were pretty savage.

    3. LarsG
      Trollface

      Re: Savagery no it's open source...

      No, this is the first true open source network and we should all applaud!

  2. Andrew Tyler 1

    Pay

    You'd think with their income they'd be able to just pay well enough to get engineers to work for them willingly without all the pesky whinging and escape attempts.

    1. Charles 9

      Re: Pay

      The trouble is the cartels' DTA attutide. The last thing they want is a mole, so the only way out of the cartel is feet-first. The only reason this is possible is there are plenty of engineers for the cartel to grab. Once the supply goes down, then they may be forced to husband their engineers, probably by resorting to threats and blackmail.

  3. This post has been deleted by its author

  4. Paul Hovnanian Silver badge
    Black Helicopters

    Dismantling the kit?

    Why? Tap into it and collect intelligence.

    As a bonus, that will reduce the demand for engineers needed to replace the confiscated equipment.

    If the military can hack into the Zeta's system, they might even be able to insert (or enable) tracking apps into the portable units. Or even inject false messages into the stream. Imagine a 'all hands' meeting ordered by the big boss. Out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by artillery.

  5. ian 22
    Pirate

    The Libertarian paradise

    Weak government, uninhibited entrepreneurial spirit, what more could a Libertarian wish for? Ayn Rand would be proud of Mexico and their drug lords.

    However it looks less like paradise and more like anarchy to me.

    Arr! Run out the guns, break out the cutlasses!

    1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
      FAIL

      Re: The Libertarian paradise

      Well, maybe you should actually read up on Ayn Rand and "property rights" and stuff instead of beaming in from some leftist mind launderette. Thank you for your understanding.

  6. Lipdorn
    Facepalm

    The Libertarian paradise

    I'd like to point out that if the Mexican and USA government weren't fighting the drug cartels then the cartels would probably be fighting so much.

    Besides, what happened during prohibition in the states? Almost the same thing.

    1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
      Big Brother

      Re: The Libertarian paradise

      Clearly, we currently have the anti-libertarian paradise. No surprises here.

      In other news:

      Charles Bowden, who has written several books about Mexico and drug trafficking, said policy failures have exacerbated the problems. “The war on drugs is over,” he said. “There are more drugs in the U.S. of higher quality and at a lower price." (...) “In the U.S., murder is bad for their drug business,” he said. “In Mexico, it is business.”

  7. Psyx
    Pint

    Put's a whole new meaning to the phrase "Head-hunted".

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