The Beltr谩n Leyva Organization (BLO), responsible for bringing violence to comparatively calm central Mexico, dissolved after the arrest of its leader, Sergio Enrique Villareal Barragan (鈥淓l Grande鈥�). In its place emerged Grupo Pacifico Sur, one of two groups formed by former BLO operatives. Hector Beltr谩n Leyva, a former BLO leader, created Los Zetas-allied Pacifico Sur, which controls territory along the Pacific Coast, stretching from the south almost all the way to the US border (see map ).
A rival group born from the decline of BLO was led by Edgar 鈥淟a Barbie鈥� Villarreal, who was arrested in August 2010. Many other former BLO members opted to return to Sinaloa, which was allied with BLO in the past.
