5. The Arrest of Félix Gallardo and the Power Vacuum
In April 1989, Mexican authorities arrested Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, the leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, for the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. This arrest led to the fragmentation of the cartel, as key members established their own organizations:
Tijuana Cartel: Led by the Arellano Félix brothers, who took control of the Tijuana route.
Juárez Cartel: Managed by the Carrillo Fuentes family, overseeing the Ciudad Juárez corridor. (wilsoncenter.org)
Sinaloa Cartel: Formed by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, focusing on Pacific coast operations.
This division intensified territorial conflicts, leading to increased violence and the emergence of new power dynamics within Mexico’s drug trade.
