The 77-Year-Old man Who Fought a Cartel Alone

In this episode of “This Podcast Is Not Real”, we revisit the incredible story of Alejo Garza Tamez, a 77-year-old rancher who stood his ground against one of Mexico’s most feared cartels.

On a November night in 2010, during the peak of the Mexican drug war, cartel gunmen demanded his land to use for their operations. Garza Tamez refused — and prepared for a final stand. Armed only with his hunting rifles and his knowledge of the terrain, he fought off waves of attackers in a four-hour siege, killing several before falling to his injuries.

Though the Zetas tried to silence the story, it spread across Mexico, turning Garza Tamez into a symbol of resistance and courage. More than a decade later, his name still inspires those who refuse to be intimidated by violence.