Gabriel Cardona and Rosalio ‘Bart’ Reta, two American citizens from the border town of Laredo, Texas, were drawn into a life of crime and violence from a young age. The seduction of easy money, fast cars, and women led them to join the infamous Los Zetas cartel, a group of mercenaries and narcos who trained them to become hitmen.
As teenagers, Cardona and Reta lived in safe houses in affluent neighborhoods, posing as normal families while they awaited orders to kill. They worked a five-day workweek, on call and ready to carry out assassinations on both sides of the border. For each job, they were paid up to $10,000 dollars and 2 kilos of cocaine, with bonuses like a 70-thousand-dollar Mercedes for a well-executed job.
This documentary delves into the dark world of the Los Zetas cartel, shedding light on the organization’s violent tactics and its impact on both sides of the US-Mexico border. It reveals how a desire for power, money, and control drove Cardona and Reta to become some of the most ruthless killers in the cartel’s ranks.
Through interviews with experts and former members of Los Zetas, the documentary also explores the inner workings of the organization, its history, and its methods of recruitment. It shows how Los Zetas has been able to maintain its power despite facing opposition from rival cartels and the Mexican government.
“The Dark Side of the Border: The Los Zetas Cartel” is a gripping and chilling portrayal of the realities of life in a cartel, and a sobering reminder of the human cost of the drug trade.