This glossary of names is organized alphabetically according to the main, that is the first, family name.
The use of names in Mexico can be confusing for English-speaking readers. In general, Spanish-speaking countries use two surnames or family names. The father’s surname or patronym, officially regarded as the main surname, comes first, then the mother’s, or matronym. So in the case of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, his father’s patronym was Guzmán and his mother’s was Loera.
In many countries the matronym is usually omitted, except in formal situations. Mexicans, however, are more inclined to use both, and the two surnames used together, without any first or given name, sometimes becomes the most common way of referring to a person. There is no absolute rule. President Salinas, for example, was familiarly known by just the patronym, but President López Portillo was never referred to as plain López. Drug barons seem to be particularly given to using both surnames: Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, the Arellano Félix brothers and the Beltrán Leyva brothers, for example, are hardly ever shortened.
In this book, we have used the full name the first time someone is mentioned, or for reminders when they have dropped out of the story for a while. After that, we have either omitted the second surname, if that seems clear and common practice for that individual, or we have used both surnames as if they were a double-barreled family name.
Two other factors should be noted. Many people have compound first or given names, and many of these usually use both: José Francisco, Juan Camilo, Miguel Ángel, etc. There is also a widespread use of nicknames, especially common in the criminal underworld.
The narrative of Mexican politics is shaped by the single, six-year terms (sexennials) of successive presidents. In the period covered by this book, they were:
Luis Echeverría Álvarez, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), 1970–76
José López Portillo, PRI, 1976–82
Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado, PRI, 1982–88
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, PRI, 1988–94
Ernesto Zedillo, PRI, 1994–2000
Vicente Fox, National Action Party (PAN), 2000–06
Felipe Calderón, PAN, 2006–12
Enrique Peña Nieto, PRI, from December 2012. He was previously governor of the State of Mexico, and features in this book mainly in that role.
Acosta Chaparro, General Mario Arturo. Initially referred to in the book as “General X,” was entrusted by President Felipe Calderón and Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mouriño with the task of meeting the top drug barons and seeking a peace deal between them. It was unsuccessful. He was murdered in April 2012.
Aguilar Garzón, Antonio. Became a supervisor in the prison service in 2000, then assistant warden of Puente Grande prison later that year, where he lasted just two months. In both posts he denounced corruption in the prison and later gave testimony against his own bosses, including Enrique Pérez Rodríguez, the director of the prison service. Aguilar died in a car accident shortly after testifying.
Álvarez Nahara, General Guillermo. Head of the Military Judicial Police during the presidency of Carlos Salinas, and took part in the capture of El Chapo Guzmán in 1993.
Arellano Félix, Benjamín. Leader of the Tijuana Cartel along with his brother, Ramón. In 2001, they became the first target of El Chapo’s Federation and of President Fox’s war on drugs.
Arroyo Guízar, Richard. Stepson of the Sinaloa Cartel’s Jesús Reynaldo Zambada García. Turned protected witness for the PGR, with the code name María Fernanda, after being arrested with his stepfather and half-brother in 2008.
Avilés Pérez, Pedro, alias León de la Sierra (Mountain Lion). First Mexican drug baron to smuggle cocaine into the US. He was murdered in 1978, and Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo took his place.
Bayardo del Villar, Edgar Enrique, known as El Jumex (The Fruit Juice). As a policeman, allegedly worked for Amado Carrillo Fuentes and later for El Rey Zambada. After being incriminated by the sons of the latter, like them he became a protected witness and gave information about corruption and collusion in García Luna’s SSP.
Beltrán Arredondo, Manuel. Businessman in the mining sector, allegedly a leading member of the Sinaloa Cartel and a close friend of El Chapo Guzmán’s. Sent Dámaso López to Puente Grande. Shot dead by Mexican navy forces in November 2007.
Beltrán Leyva, Marcos Arturo (the Marcos is usually left out), alias El Barbas (The Beard). Eldest of the Beltrán Leyva brothers (Arturo, Héctor, and Alfredo, collectively “The Three Knights”). Helped Amado Carrillo Fuentes build his empire in the 1990s, then backed El Chapo in his rise. They turned on each other in 2008, after El Chapo orchestrated the arrest of his brother, Alfredo. Shot dead by forces of the Mexican navy in December 2009, in a raid on one of his luxury flats in Cuernavaca.
Beltrán Leyva, Héctor, alias El H, El Ingeniero, or El Elegante. In charge of developing the organization’s relations with senior public officials.
Beltrán Leyva, Alfredo, alias El Mochomo (The Ant). The youngest of the brothers, arrested in January 2008.
Beltrán Santana, Leonardo. Warden of the Puente Grande maximum security prison when El Chapo “escaped,” and oversaw the period when the drug baron controlled most of what went on there. He spent nine years in prison and was released in 2010 on the orders of Genaro García Luna.
Beltrones, Manlio Fabio. Senior PRI politician, governor of Sonora 1991–97, and, since 2012, leader of the PRI in the lower house. Has been accused of links to drug traffickers and providing protection to the Pacific organization, as well as involvement in the murder of Cardinal Posadas Ocampo, and diverting the investigation into the killing of PRI presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio in 1994.
Berrellez, Hector. DEA special agent who led the investigation into the murder of Enrique Camarena, known as Operation Leyenda.
Bribiesca Sahagún, Manuel. Son of Marta Sahagún, the second wife of President Fox. Allegedly developed business links with Ignacio Coronel of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Buendía Tellezgirón, Manuel. Mexican journalist murdered in 1984.
Camarena, Enrique, known as El Kiki. DEA special agent, murdered by the Guadalajara Cartel in 1985. His death caused friction between the US and Mexico, but also between the DEA and the CIA.
Camberos Rivera, Francisco Javier, alias El Chito. While El Chapo was in Puente Grande, El Chito acted as his fixer on the outside.
Camil Garza, Jaime. Businessman and friend of President Zedillo, father of soap star Jaime Camil, and allegedly a front person for Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
Cárdenas Guillén, Osiel. Leader of the Gulf Cartel, captured in March 2003 and extradited to the US in January 2007.
Cárdenas Guillén, Antonio Ezequiel. As Osiel’s brother, took charge of the Gulf Cartel after his brother’s arrest in 2003. Killed in November 2010, along with a number of his bodyguards, in a shootout with federal forces.
Cárdenas Palomino, Luis, also known as El Pollo (The Chicken). AFI Director General of Police Investigations in 2003, when he was part of a group that briefly “arrested” El Chapo Guzmán, inaugurating the lucrative relationship between the drug baron and García Luna. Held a series of senior posts in the Federal Police under García Luna, during the Calderón administration.
Caro Quintero, Rafael, alias El Príncipe (The Prince). He and Amado Carrillo Fuentes were the two main protégés of Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo in the early phase of the Pacific organization, which would later give rise to El Chap o’s Sinaloa Cartel.
Carpizo McGregor, Jorge. Attorney general 1993–94, the third of five to hold that post under President Salinas.
Carrillo Fuentes, Amado, alias El Señor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies). At the head of the Juárez Cartel, became the most powerful of all Mexican drug traffickers in the 1990s, and in many respects took over from the Colombian Medellín Cartel. Allegedly died in July 1997 as a result of botched plastic surgery.
Carrillo Fuentes, Rodolfo. Youngest brother of Amado. Shot dead with his wife in 2004, apparently on orders of El Chapo or El Mayo, for not toeing the line of The Federation. His death almost led to a split between El Chapo and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes and the Beltrán Leyvas, but in fact this did not occur until 2008.
Carrillo Fuentes, Vicente, alias El Viceroy. Younger brother of Amado and elder brother of Rodolfo, took over the Juárez Cartel on Amado’s supposed death in 1997.
Carrillo Leyva, Vicente, alias El Ingeniero (The Engineer). Son of Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
Carrillo Olea, General Jorge. Key figure in the Mexican political and security establishment for many years. Under President de la Madrid, in 1985, set up the intelligence agency Cisen. As anti–drug coordinator for Salinas, he set up Cendro in 1992, took charge of the capture of El Chapo in 1993, and effectively ran the Attorney General’s Office. As governor of Morelos state from 1994–98, was accused of protecting drug traffickers and of being close to Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
Castaño Gil, José Vicente, alias El Profe (The Professor). Colombian paramilitary and drug trafficker. Founded the far-right paramilitary group AUC with his brother, Carlos.
Cervantes Aguirre, Brigadier General Enrique. Secretary of Defense under President Zedillo.
Coello Trejo, Javier. Drug czar under Enrique Álvarez del Castillo, President Salinas’s first attorney general. Allegedly in the pay of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, prevailing on him to hand over Guzmán as the scapegoat for the cardinal’s murder in 1993.
Coronel Villarreal, Ignacio, known as Nacho. Also known as El Rey del Cristal for pioneering the traffic in the synthetic drug, methamphetamine. Leading figure in the Sinaloa Cartel and close associate of El Chapo. Shot dead by the Mexican army in July 2010.
Costilla, Jorge Eduardo, alias El Coss. Right-hand man to Osiel and then Ezequiel Cárdenas. Took charge of a divided Gulf Cartel after death of Ezequiel in 2010, and was himself arrested in September 2012.
Escobar, Pablo. Head of the Medellín Cartel, and the most powerful Colombian drug trafficker in the 1980s. Shot dead in 1993.
Esparragoza Moreno, Juan José, alias El Azul (Blue). Leader of the Sinaloa cartel. Like a number of drug traffickers, began his career as an agent of the DFS intelligence service in the 1970s. Became a key aide to Amado Carrillo Fuentes, then to El Chapo Guzmán. Known by US agencies as “The Peace Maker” for his repeated attempts to broker peace deals between different drug factions.
Félix Gallardo, Miguel Ángel. One of the early leaders of the Guadalajara Cartel, or Pacific organization, which gave rise to the Sinaloa Cartel. Arrested in April 1989.
Fernández Ruiz, Luis Francisco. Assistant warden of the Puente Grande maximum security prison when El Chapo “escaped” on January 19, 2001. One of sixty-eight members of the prison staff charged in connection with that event, spent five years in prison before being released on appeal.
Fonseca Carrillo, Ernesto, known as Don Neto. Early leader of the Pacific Cartel, uncle of Amado Carrillo. Currently in jail for Camarena murder.
Gallardo, José Luis, alias El Güero (Blondie). Kidnapped DEA agent Camarena for Caro Quintero and Don Neto in 1985. Thought by some to be a nephew of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo; this book suggests he may have been a CIA agent.
Garay Cadena, Víctor Gerardo. García Luna put him in charge of civilian forces at the beginning of Calderón’s “war on drugs” at the end of 2006. A year later videos emerged showing him and other SSP officials taking orders from members of the Sinaloa Cartel. After Edgar Millán was killed in May 2008, García Luna made Garay acting commissioner of the PFP.
García Ábrego, Juan. With brother Humberto, became leader of the Gulf Cartel when their uncle, Juan Nepomuceno, retired. Arrested in 1996 and extradited to the United States.
García Luna, Genaro. Secretary of public security under Calderón and one of the central figures in the “war on drugs,” which he is accused of using to benefit El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2001, under President Fox, founded and became director general of the AFI. Previous to that held posts in the PJF and Cisen.
Garza Palacios, Javier, alias El Frutilupis. AFI director of special operations in 2003, when he was part of the group that usefully “arrested” El Chapo Guzmán. García Luna made him coordinator of regional security in the Calderón government, but was forced to “sack” him after a scandal in 2007.
Gertz Manero, Alejandro. First secretary of public security, appointed by Fox. Had been a senior PGR official 30 years earlier, the heyday of the “suitcase ritual,” which collected bribes from drug traffickers and channeled them up to higher echelons in the Mexican state.
González Calderoni, Guillermo. Head of the PJF in Guadalajara in 1987, and allegedly represented the Salinas family before the Gulf and Juárez cartels.
Gutiérrez Rebollo, General Jesús. From 1989 chief of 5th Military Region, including Jalisco and Sinaloa, when the Pacific organization was consolidating its dominance in that region and beyond. President Zedillo made him head of the INCD in 1996. In February 1997 he was arrested and sentenced for links to Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
Guzmán Loera, Joaquín, alias El Chapo (Shorty). Leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, the largest Mexican crime group and the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world.
Harrison, Lawrence Victor, alias Torre Blanca (White Tower). US communications specialist who installed radio systems for Mexican drug cartels in the 1980s. Entered a protected witness program in 1989, testified in a Los Angeles court in 1990, and again in 1992.
Higuera Bernal, Alfredo. Sinaloa district attorney, allegedly a guest at El Chapo’s “wedding” in 2007.
Higuera Bernal, Gilberto. Deputy attorney general under President Fox and close ally of García Luna. Accused of making appointments to favor Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán and The Federation.
Kerry, John. Democratic Senator, currently US Secretary of State. Chaired the Kerry Committee hearings into the Iran-Contra affair (1986–89).
Labastida Calderón, Igor. AFI director of federal investigations in 2003, when he was part of the group that “arrested” El Chapo Guzmán. Shot dead in June 2008, when head of Traffic and Contraband at the PFP, and reportedly preparing to turn protected witness for the US Government against corruption in the AFI and SSP.
Labastida Ochoa, Francisco. Former governor of Sinaloa state and PRI candidate for president in 2000. As secretary of the interior in 1999, made a number of appointments that favored El Chapo.
Laborín Archuleta, Clara Elena. Wife of Hector Beltrán Leyva and would-be society hostess.
Lazcano, Heriberto, alias Z3 or El Verdugo (The Executioner). One of the founders and subsequent leader of Los Zetas, a breakaway group originally comprised of former Mexican Special Forces recruited by the Gulf Cartel. Reportedly killed by government forces in October 2012; the body was stolen by an armed commando a few days later.
Leaños Rivera, Felipe. Guard at Puente Grande who denounced the corruption leading up to El Chapo’s escape. He was reportedly found dead in a sack, after disappearing from the prison, in 2007.
Lehder, Carlos. Founder of Colombia’s Medellín Cartel alongside Pablo Escobar.
León Aragón, Rodolfo, alias El Chino. Named head of PFJ by Carrillo Olea in 1991. He has been accused of direct responsibility for the killing of Cardinal Posadas Ocampo in 1993, and of being involved with Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
López Núnez, Dámaso. Took over as assistant warden of Puente Grande in April 1999, bringing with him a whole team from Sinaloa. Allegedly in the employ of El Mayo Zambada and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Macedo de la Concha, Rafael. Attorney general under President Fox.
Martínez Herrera, Arturo, alias El Texas. Member of the Gulf cartel and associate of El Chapo Guzmán and El Güero Palma in Puente Grande.
Matta Ballesteros, Juan Ramón, alias El Negro. Honduran drug trafficker, partner of Medellín Cartel and of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo.
Medina Mora, Eduardo. Former Televisa board member, appointed head of Cisen by President Fox, then secretary of public security during the last year of that adminstration. Became attorney general under Calderón
Milián Rodríguez, Ramón. Chief accountant of the Medellín Cartel.
Millán Gómez, Edgar Eusebio. Subordinate and close friend of García Luna. Replaced Javier Garza as coordinator of regional security in 2007. Shot dead in May 2008.
Morfín Otero, María Guadalupe, known as Lupita. President of the Jalisco State Human Rights Commission, she tried to take action against the abuse of women and overall corruption in Puente Grande.
Mouriño, Juan Camilo. Interior secretary under President Calderón, killed in an air crash on November 4, 2008, along with eight others. El Mayo Zambada is widely suspected of ordering his killing.
Nepomuceno, Juan. Historic leader of the Gulf Cartel.
Ochoa, Jorge Luis. Prominent member of Colombia’s Medellín Cartel, along with brothers Fabio and Juan David.
Ortiz, Sergio Humberto, alias El Apá (Daddy). Former policeman and chief of Mexico’s biggest kidnap gang, La Flor, allegedly protected by García Luna and his cronies. Died in prison in 2009.
Palma, Héctor, alias El Güero. A close associate of El Chapo Guzmán in the Guadalajara and Pacific organizations.
Pérez Díaz, Juan José. Prison guard at Puente Grande who resisted being recruited by the drug traffickers.
Pérez Rodríguez, Enrique. Became deputy director of the prison service in the SSP in 1999. Closely involved in the corruption that characterized the system.
Posadas Ocampo, Cardinal Juan Jesús. Killed in a shootout in the car park of Guadalajara airport on May 24, 1993. His death was a national scandal. The official version, that he was caught in the crossfire during a clash between El Chapo and the Arrellano Félix brothers, was rewritten several times. This book suggests he was murdered by the security services because he knew too much about their connections with the drug trade.
Puga Quintanilla, José Salvador. Former member of the Gulf Cartel, given the code name Pitufo when he made a sworn statement to public prosecutors on March 9, 2009.
Rodríguez Gacha, José Gonzalo, alias El Mexicano. Another founder of the Medellín Cartel, who pioneered close dealings with the Mexican drug traffickers in the late 1970s.
Rodríguez Orejuela, Gilberto and Miguel. Colombian drug traffickers.
Rosas Rosas, Facundo. Under secretary for Police Strategy and Intelligence under García Luna during the Calderón administration.
Sahagún, Marta. Spokesperson for, then second wife of, President Fox.
Salcido, Manuel, alias El Cochiloco. Leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, killed in October 1991.
Salinas de Gortari, Raúl. Brother of President Carlos Salinas. Arrested in 1995 on murder and corruption charges. Acquitted of murder in 2005, but still on trial for illicit enrichment.
Santiago Vasconcelos, José Luis. Deputy attorney general for SIEDO, responsible for investigations into García Luna and his staff.
Seal, Adler Berriman, better known as Barry Seal. Pilot for the Medellín Cartel in the 1980s and a CIA agent.
Tello Peón, Jorge Enrique. An aide to Carrillo Olea in the early 1990s, he became under secretary for public security in May 1999, and continued in that post under President Fox. After a spell in business at Pemex, he returned in 2008 as Calderón’s adviser in the “war on drugs.” El Chapo identified him as one of three officials who facilitated his escape from Puente Grande.
Tostado Félix, Pablo. Aide to Esparragoza and others in the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2005, questioned in prison by lawyers for the Guadalajara archdiocese seeking to clarify the killing of Cardinal Posadas, gave abundant details about the organization and its links to government. Found shot and hung in his cell in May 2009.
Treviño, Miguel Ángel, alias El Muerto or Z40. Lazcano’s second-in-command and current successor as Zetas leader.
Valdez Villarreal, Edgar, alias La Barbie. Sent by The Federation to Nuevo Laredo in 2002 to begin the war on the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. Became the organization’s most violent enforcer, working mainly for Arturo Beltrán Leyva. After the latter’s death, began to develop own drug business. Was “captured,” or gave himself up, in 2010, apparently to save himself from Héctor Beltrán Leyva.
Valencia Fontes, Jaime. El Chapo’s “private secretary” in Puente Grande prison. Organized a group of inmates as enforcers, known as The Plumbers.
Villanueva, Mario. Former governor of Quintana Roo state, extradited to US in May 2010 on drug charges.
Villarreal, Sergio, alias El Grande. Former policeman who began to work under Arturo Beltrán Leyva in 2000 and joined La Barbie in leading The Federation’s war on the Gulf Cartel. For a time he ran the organization’s operations at Mexico City Airport. After the split in The Federation and the death of Arturo Beltrán Leyva, was left defending the bastion of the Juárez Cartel against El Chapo.
Vizcaíno Medina, Jesús. One of the Sinaloas, or police commanders linked to the Sinaloa Cartel who accompanied López Núnez when he became assistant warden at Puente Grande.
Hernández, Zulema Yulia. one of the women El Chapo took as a partner while in Puente Grande prison.
Yunes Linares, Miguel Ángel. Adviser in the SSP, then director of the prison service. In July 2000 became chief adviser to Gertz Manero, the first secretary of public security, while his friend Pérez Rodríguez took over as director of the prison service.
Zambada García, Ismael, known as El Mayo. Leader of the Sinaloa cartel, regarded by some as the man behind El Chapo’s throne.
Zambada García, Jesús Reynaldo, alias El Rey (The King). Brother of Ismael, helped run operations for El Mayo and El Chapo in the capital, especially the airport. Arrested along with his son and stepson after a confused shootout in Mexico City in October 2008 between different groups of policemen, some of them his bodyguards.
Zambada Reyes, Jesús. Son of Jesús Zambada, turned protected witness for the PGR, with the code name Rambo III, after being arrested with his father in 2008.
Zuno Arce, Rubén. Businessman and brother-in-law of former president Luis Echeverría. Accused of drug trafficking from the 1970s, and convicted by a Los Angeles court in 1990 of involvement in the murder of DEA agent Camarena.