Arturo Guzmán Decena was a prominent drug trafficker widely recognized as the founder of Los Zetas, which originally served as the armed enforcement wing of the Gulf Cartel. By 2002, Guzmán Decena had escalated his criminal activities, contributing to a wave of violence and instability tied to drug trafficking in Mexico. On November 21 of that year, a violent confrontation erupted in a neighborhood of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, between Guzmán Decena's associates and security forces, including the Mexican Army and state police. The clash involved heavy gunfire and resulted in Guzmán Decena's death, which shocked the nation and signified a broader conflict between the state and organized criminal groups.The encounter shed light on the Mexican government's ongoing struggle with powerful drug cartels and their violent tactics. The government's attempts to assert control over these criminal organizations led to intense confrontations, often characterized by brutality on both sides. Guzmán Decena's death was particularly noteworthy as it underscored the growing capabilities of Los Zetas as they transitioned from being a paramilitary force to a fully-fledged criminal organization involved in various illegal enterprises, including human trafficking and kidnapping.