El Salvador’s president says Mexico’s Zetas drug gang exploring operations in his country

Mexico’s Zetas drug gang now in El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — President Mauricio Funes says Mexico’s Zeta drug gang has entered El Salvador and has made contact with local gangs in what appears to be an exploration of opportunities.

Funes says the gang already has extended its operations into Central America, operating in countries like Guatemala and Honduras. But he adds it is not clear whether the violent gang has set up shop yet in El Salvador.

Funes told reporters Wednesday that Central America needs a U.S. anti-drug aid plan designed specifically for the region. Mexico gets most of the $1.4 billion in U.S. anti-drug aid under the current Merida Initiative.

Mexican cartels have increasingly been using Central American as a transit point to ship drugs toward the U.S. market.