The usage of uniforms grants Mexican groups visible signs of authority, and essentially presents them as the parallel power operating alongside the state.
It is significant that Mexican DTOs are still leaning towards using uniforms marking their identity, in contrast to Colombia, where most DTOs prefer to operate in civilian wear. Since then, however, the Zetas have split from the Gulf Cartel and Tamaulipas has become one of the most hotly contested states in Mexico, no longer the undisputed territory of Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, alias "El Coss," and his allies. The classic Gulf Cartel logo depicts Mexico, Tamaulipas state, and a "Z" sign to represent the Zetas, the group's former armed wing. Other DTO insignia have developed new meanings over time, sometimes unintentionally. Uniform insignia can also mark different levels of rank, which can work as a powerful recruitment tool. A gold-plated logo that appears to represent a "Commander Shark" (Comandante Tiburon) of the Gulf Cartel depicts a shark popping out of Tamaulipas, the cartel's stronghold. Another Familia Michoacana logo in the video uses eagles, a classic symbol of Mexican nationalism. The insignia is clearly meant to evoke the Familia's quasi-religious ideology, and their "crusade" to rid Michoacan of their hated rivals, the Zetas.Īs indicated by the Familia case, the usage of such insignia to mark a DTO's identity can be powerful propaganda tools. The seized goods, which appear about 14 seconds into the video, included baseball hats branded with the Knights Templar logo: a crusader wearing typical medieval gear, a white robe marked with a red cross. agent Jaime Zapata, after he and his partner were possibly forced to stop at a false checkpoint which was in fact run by the deadly and unpredictable Zetas criminal gang.Īs recently as April 4, authorities found a cache of false police uniforms used by the "Knights Templar" (Caballeros Templarios), the new incarnation of the Familia Michoacana. Official uniforms can confuse victims and inspire compliance, as may have occured during the fatal shooting of U.S. Wearing such gear is understandably attractive for gang members, as it allows them to blend in and conduct robberies, kidnappings, or killings with impunity. A video released by Mexican blog Videos Policiacos, which tracks drug violence in a similar vein as Blog del Narco and Diario del Narco, examines the range of uniforms and insignias used by Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs).Īs the video shows, many of the uniforms used by DTO members are almost indistinguishable replicas of those used by federal or municipal police.
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