How a Cartel Built Their Own Cell Phone Network

Summary by Krater

This video examines how the Los Zetas drug cartel built a secret private cell network across Mexico using low-level informants called halcones, walkie-talkies, custom-built antennas, and communications repeaters.

From the video

Answers: How did the Los Zetas cartel build its secret communication network across Mexico?

• Los Zetas drug cartel communications network
• Halcones informants in Mexico
• Walkie-talkies and radio spectrum analysis
• Antennas and repeaters in jungle terrain
• V&V Communications radio shop in McAllen Texas

What it concludes

• The Zetas cartel built a secret, private cell network spanning nearly all of Mexico using low-level informants called halcones, walkie-talkies, and custom repeater networks.
• The cartel used hijacked commercial repeaters and custom antennas disguised as palm trees or placed on towers to amplify radio signals across difficult jungle terrain.
• A single 2014 operation led by law enforcement unearthed 155 repeaters, 167 antennas, 71 computers, 166 solar panels, 3000 radios, and resulted in the kidnapping of 36 engineers.
• The network was masterminded by Jose Luis del Toro Estrada, who led a cartel geek squad composed largely of kidnapped communications experts.