Antonio Cárdenas Guillén
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen | |
|---|---|
| File:CARDENAS-GUILLEN, Antonio Ezequiel.jpg | |
| Born | March 5, 1962 |
| Died | November 5, 2010 (aged 48) |
| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Other names | Tony Tormenta |
| Occupation | Gulf Cartel drug lord |
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm)[1] |
| Title | Leader |
| Predecessor | Osiel Cárdenas Guillén |
| Partner | Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez |
Template:Spanish name Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén (a.k.a.: Tony Tormenta) (March 5, 1962 – November 5, 2010) was a Mexican drug lord and was one of the two leaders of the criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel. Antonio was brother of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén and was also a partner of Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez.
Biography
Cárdenas is believed to have begun his drug trafficking career during the late 1980s, rising through the ranks of the Gulf Cartel and becoming its leader after the arrest of his brother Osiel Cárdenas Guillén in March 14, 2003.[2] Antonio, along with other Gulf Cartel associates, was responsible for multi-ton shipments of marijuana and cocaine from Mexico to the United States.
The Gulf Cartel, originally founded in Mexico the 1930s to smuggle whiskey and other illicit commodities into the United States, expanded significantly by the 1970s under Juan García Abrego, who became the first drug trafficker to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.[3] Following his 1996 arrest by Mexican authorities and subsequent deportation to the United States, Oscar Malherbe De León took control of the cartel until his arrest a short time later. He was replaced by Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, who was arrested in 2003, and extradited to the United States in 2007. The Gulf Cartel currently controls most of the cocaine and marijuana trafficking through the Matamoros, Tamaulipas corridor to the United States. The Attorney General of Mexico suspects that his partner Jorge Eduardo Costilla has taken full control of the Gulf Cartel.[4]
Charges and bounty
Cárdenas was one of the eleven 'Most Wanted' Mexican fugitives sought by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).[5] He was charged in a 2008 federal indictment in the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of State was offering a reward of up to $5 million USD for information leading to his arrest,[1][6] while the Attorney General of Mexico was offering a 30 million pesos bounty (about $2.5 million USD).[7]
On November 5, 2010, Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén was shot and killed during a shootout with Mexican Army and Mexican Marine officers which took place in the border city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas.[8][9] Four other suspected members of the cartel[10] as well as two marines[11] were killed in the military operation. A news reporter was also killed in the shootout.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "DEA - Wanted: Antonio Cárdenas Guillén". Justice.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ "Drug boss captured in Mexico". BBC News. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "U.S. Department of State: Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen".
- ^ "Tony Tormenta no era el líder del cártel del Golfo". Milenio (in Spanish). November 6, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ "DEA Names Eleven 'Most Wanted' Mexican Fugitives Sought by U.S." CNS News. April 14, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ "Narcotics Rewards Program: Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen". State.gov. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ "Ofrecen recompensa millonaria por 37 capos del narco". Grupo Reforma (in Spanish). March 23, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ "Top drug lord Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen killed in shootout with Mexican forces". Wireupdate.com. 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ "Tony Tormenta muere abatido - El Universal - MĂŠxico". El Universal. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ Top cartel leader killed in Mexican border city clash cnn
- ^ Mexico Gulf drug cartel leader Ezequiel Cardenas killed BBC