Arturo Beltrán Leyva (Photo: AP/Mexico PGR)

There are few publicly available details regarding the history and organization of the Beltrán Leyva Organization (BLO). The cartel’s leadership is comprised of five brothers—the top lieutenants—and the organization is based out of Sinaloa state. The BLO maintains operations on both Mexican coasts and its northern and southern borders, which move significant quantities of cocaine into the U.S.

Until 2008, the BLO formed part of the Sinaloa Federation, for which it controlled access to the U.S. border in Mexico’s Sonora state. In January 2008, Alfredo “El Mochomo” Beltrán Leyva was arrested by the Mexican army. There is speculation that the intelligence leading to his arrest came from Sinaloa leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, and that the death of Edgar Guzman Beltrán, Guzman Loera’s son, in May 2008 was retribution for the arrest. Alfredo commanded two groups of hitmen for the BLO, and was allegedly in charge of transporting drugs, bribing officials, and laundering money for the Federation at the time.

Mexican and U.S. officials confirmed the split between the BLO and Sinaloa cartel in mid-May 2008. After the split, it formed an alliance with Los Zetas in order to move cocaine from Guatemala into Mexico, and then on into the US. This relationship between the two organizations continues today, and allows each to more firmly do battle against the rival Sinaloa Federation.

One of the biggest weapons in the BLO's arsenal is its intelligence apparatus, widely considered to be the best among Mexico's DTOs. The BLO has successfully infiltrated the upper levels of the Mexican government, as well as US diplomatic establishments.

The BLO has become one of the most powerful DTOs in Mexico in the last year, capable of smuggling narcotics, battling rivals, and demonstrating a willingness to order the assassination of high-ranking government officials. However, it suffered a serious setback in mid-December 2009 when Arturo Beltrán Leyva, Alfredo's brother and one of the DTO's top bosses, was killed by Mexican navy commandos in a raid. The Mexican government has said it ascertained Arturo's location through the use of good intelligence and diligent police work, but there are many who believe El Chapo tipped off the commandos to his location in order to eliminate a competitor.

Héctor, Arturo's brother, would be the natural selection to fill the power vacuum left by Arturo. However, there are some media reports circulating that Héctor was also killed in the raid. Regardless, more bloodshed will likely ensue as the BLO retaliates against El Chapo and the Mexican government, and the BLO fights against its rivals for survival.