In San Fernando , Gulf Cartel forces led by Antonio Cárdenas Guillén " strung the bodies of fallen Zetas and their associates from light poles . " The Gulf Cartel lashed out to attack Los Zetas at their stronghold in San Fernando . According to '' The Monitor '' , the municipality of San Fernando is a " virtual spiderweb " of dirt roads that connect with Monterrey , Nuevo Laredo , Reynosa , and Matamoros — making it a prized territory for drug traffickers . In August 2010 , Mexican Naval Infantry found 72 dead illegal immigrants — 58 men and 14 women — in San Fernando , killed by Los Zetas for their failure to pay their ransom and their refusal to work for the cartel . An Ecuadorian survivor faked his death and made it up to a military checkpoint , and subsequently led authorities to the 72 dead inside a warehouse on a ranch . The massacre was internationally condemned
72 dead illegal immigrants
2010 San Fernando massacre
2011 San Fernando massacre