Los Zetas is a powerful and violent criminal syndicate and is considered to be the "most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and dangerous cartel operating in Mexico."  On 08 April 2014, a former leader of the Los Zetas cartel, Ivan Velazquez Caballero ( aka "el Taliban”), pleaded guilty to charges related to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.