The international hacker movement "Anonymous" has published an internet video threatening Mexico's Zetas drug cartel with exposure of its allies in the local police and news media this week unless the gang frees a kidnapped member.The YouTube message, which claims to be from Anonymous "Veracruz, Mexico and the world," says it is "tired of the criminal group the Zetas, which is dedicated to kidnapping, stealing and extortion," and threatens to fight back with information instead of weapons.

A message left by the notorious Zetas cartel on a dead blogger's body recently - a warning to critical online posters. Photo: AFP

The video refers to an unidentified person kidnapped in
the coastal city of Veracruz, and says: "You have made a great mistake
by taking one of us. Free him."

"We cannot defend ourselves with weapons, but we can with
their cars, houses, bars," the message adds, apparently alluding to
properties owned by cartel supporters. "It's not difficult. We know who
they are and where they are are."

An official with the Veracruz state attorney general's office, who could not be named because he was not authorised to speak on the record, said the office could not confirm video's authenticity or the case of the kidnapping.