AUTHOR:
U.S Drug Enforcement Administration
TITLE:
Today's Major Drug Trafficking Organizations in Mexico
SOURCE:
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, 2002
TEXT:
Today's Major Drug Trafficking
Organizations in Mexico
The influence and power of organized crime groups from Mexico, fueled by the enormous
profits generated by their involvement in the drug trade, has increased significantly
over the past several decades. In addition to gaining a prominent role in cocaine
trafficking during the early 1990s, traffickers from Mexico, who had always been
skilled in the production and trafficking of numerous drugs, committed themselves
to large-scale methamphetamine production and trafficking during this period.
Methamphetamine, which had appealed to a relatively small number of American users,
re-emerged as a major drug of choice during the mid-1990s. Organized criminal
groups from Mexico have not yet joined together and evolved into a monolithic
entity like the Medellin group or the Cali mafia. Several powerful and violent
organizations exist and operate today from headquarters in a number of Mexican
cities.
![[Benjamin, Eduardo, and Ramon Arellano-Felix photos]](ArellanoFelix.gif)
Based
in Tijuana, the Arellano-Felix Brothers organization (AFO) is one of the
most powerful, violent, and aggressive trafficking groups in Mexico. The AFO is
responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of multiton
quantities of cocaine and marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and
methamphetamine. Benjamin Arellano-Felix is the head of this organization. It
operates in Tijuana, Baja California, and parts of the States of Sinaloa, Sonora,
Jalisco, and most recently, Tamaulipas. Benjamin coordinates the activities of
the organization through his brothers: Ramon, Eduardo, and Javier. Ramon Arellano-Felix,
considered the most violent brother, organizes and coordinates security operations
for the AFO. On September 11, 1997, he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted
List.
Until July 4,
1997, when Amado Carrillo-Fuentes died in Mexico City after undergoing plastic
surgery, he was considered the most powerful trafficker in Mexico. The Juarez
cartel, formerly known as the Amado Carrillo-Fuentes Organization, based in
Juarez, is still involved in the trafficking of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Following Amado's death, gang warfare within Mexico and in U.S. border towns escalated,
affecting traffickers and innocents alike. While the full impact of Amado Carrillo-Fuentes'
death has not been totally assessed, it is clear that it caused a power struggle
that resulted in approximately 60 drug-related murders in the Juarez area between
August 1997 and September 1998. Nevertheless, the Juarez Cartel continues to function
effectively under several members formerly under Amado's command. One such member,
Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes, Amado's brother, is now considered the leader of the
organization. Vicente is wanted in Mexico and is under indictment in the Western
District of Texas for operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
![[Miguel Caro-Quintero photo]](mcq.gif)
The
Caro-Quintero organization is based in Sonora, Mexico, and focuses on trafficking
in cocaine and marijuana. Originally headed by Rafael Caro-Quintero, the organization
was formerly part of the infamous Mexican Drug Trafficking Federation. Rafael
has been incarcerated in Mexico since 1985 for his involvement in the murder of
DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena. Since then, the organization has been headed
by Rafael's brother, Miguel. To date, four U.S. indictments have been issued against
Miguel Caro-Quintero, three in Arizona and one in Colorado. Although Miguel was
arrested in 1992, that effort was negated when a Mexican federal judge in Hermosillo
dropped all criminal charges and ordered his release from custody. In June 1999,
Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that Miguel could be extradited to the United States
to face money laundering and marijuana trafficking charges if he is arrested by
Mexican police.
![[Jesus, Luis, and Adan Amezcua-Contreras photos]](AmezcuaContrerasOrg.gif)
The
Amezcua-Contreras organization, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, and run by
brothers Luis, Jesus, and Adan Amezcua-Contreras, is one of the most prominent
methamphetamine trafficking organizations operating today, as well as the leading
supplier of chemicals to other meth-trafficking organizations. By exploiting the
legitimate international chemical trade, they hold an important key to producing
meth on a grand scale. In June 1998, Jesus and Luis were arrested by Mexican authorities
on non-drug-related charges. By October 1998, all criminal charges were dropped
by a Guadalajara judge. Nevertheless, the Government of Mexico re-arrested Jesus
and Luis on Provisional Arrest Warrants (PAWs) issued in the United States. On
May 19, 1999, Adan, arrested in 1997, was released from prison. On January 2,
2001, the U.S. extradition request for Luis Amezcua-Contreras was formally denied;
however, he remains in custody in Mexico pending a possible Mexican prosecution.
On May 17, 2001, the Government of Mexico granted Jesus Amezcua-Contreras' extradition
to stand trial in the Southern District of California on the aforementioned charges.
Jesus Amezcua, however, quickly filed another appeal. Consequently, he remains
imprisoned in Mexico pending the outcome of his appeal.
PUBLICATION DATE:
none given
DATE:
20020101
PUBLICATION TYPE:
Government
KEYWORDS:
Narco-terrorism, Mexico, Amezcua-Contreras organization, Caro-Quintero organization
, Juarez cartel, Arellano-Felix Brothers organization (AFO), Luis Amezcua-Contreras,
Jesus Amezcua-Contreras, Adan Amezcua-Contreras, Rafael Caro-Quintero, Miguel
Caro-Quintero, Amado Carrillo-Fuentes, Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes, Benjamin Arellano-Felix,
Ramon Arellano-Felix, Eduardo Arellano-Felix, Javier Arellano-Felix