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The Rise & Fall of the Guadalajara Cartel: Unmasking Narco Empires!
Jul 29, 2024
Welcome to our channel! 🚀 Today, we delve into the fascinating history of the Guadalajara Cartel, tracing its journey from small gangs to a multi-billion dollar empire. 💰 We'll explore the key figures like Felix Gallardo, Rafael Caro Quintero, and Don Neto, who played pivotal roles in shaping the cartel's destiny. 📜 Discover how their strategic alliances and innovative methods transformed the drug trade in the 1980s. 🌟 From luxurious lifestyles to their dramatic downfall, uncover the secrets and stories that have inspired series like Netflix's "Narcos: Mexico." 📺 📈 The Rise & Fall of the Guadalajara Cartel: Unmasking Narco Empires 🌎 🔍 Key Topics: Drug Trafficking History, Guadalajara Cartel, Felix Gallardo, Rafael Caro Quintero, Don Neto, Narcos Mexico, DEA Operations, Kiki Camarena, Operation Condor, Mexican Drug Lords Don't forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔, and share 📢 for more deep dives into the world's most captivating stories! Thank you for watching! 🙌 - --~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Like and subscribe will be greatly appreciated! 🙏 -~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Grow Your YouTube Channel Faster with vidIQ! Want to get more views, subscribers, and take your YouTube game to the next level? I personally use vidIQ to optimize my videos, find the best keywords, analyze trends, and crush the algorithm. Whether you’re just starting out or already growing fast, vidIQ gives you the tools, insights, and strategies you need to stand out. Start for free today and see the difference: 👉 https://vidiq.com/MCICM
View Video Transcript
0:04
Welcome to our Channel today we're diving deep into the history of the Mexican drug cartels focusing
0:11
specifically on the guadal lajara cartel this era has fascinated filmmakers and
0:16
audiences alike inspiring countless news reports and series including Netflix
0:23
narcos Mexico we'll explore the transformative period in the 1980s when
0:29
the Mexican cartels evolved from small smuggling gangs into multi-billion
0:34
dollar Enterprises these were the times when cartel leaders like Felix Gallardo
0:39
Rafael Caro Quintero and Don NATO began to appear on Forbes lists flying
0:46
luxurious private jets and purchased some of the world's most expensive real
0:51
estate our journey begins with the roots of the Guadalajara cartel contrary to
0:56
popular belief this organization didn't start a cart cartel in the traditional sense as we discussed in previous videos
1:04
the term cartel is a misnomer when applied to these groups originally they
1:09
were Loosely connected gangs that occasionally collaborated but often competed fiercely with each other the
1:16
name guadal Lara cartel was later coined by Dia agents for Simplicity in their
1:23
reports the story starts in the late 1970s with Operation Condor a joint
1:29
effort by the American and Mexican governments to destroy marijuana and heroin crops and capture traffickers
1:36
this operation forced key players from the Sinaloa region Mexico's main drug
1:41
trafficking Hub to relocate to godal La Jara this move wasn't just about evading
1:47
law enforcement it was facilitated by corrupt officials within Mexico's Federal Security Administration Who
1:53
provided protection and Resources by the early 1980s The Guadalajara cartel had become a well
2:00
oiled machine their operations expanded massively with enormous plantations
2:06
visible from miles away they controlled major drug production areas and border
2:11
crossings making them the most significant players in the illegal drug Market notable figures like Pedro avales
2:19
Perez Ernesto fona cillo Don NATO and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo emerged as
2:26
key leaders these men brought Innovation to the drug trade such as using airplanes for transportation and
2:33
establishing connections with South American cocaine suppliers the cartel's power grew thanks
2:39
to their strategic alliances they had connections with politicians law enforcement and other influential
2:46
figures who facilitated their operations for instance Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo
2:53
known as El padrino The Godfather was particularly Adept at forging these
2:58
crucial relationships ships however everything changed with the murder of DEA aent enri K Kiki
3:06
Camarena in 1985 this incident led to increased pressure from the US government
3:12
resulting in a Crackdown on the cartel Felix Gallardo was eventually captured
3:17
in 1989 a significant turning point that led to the fragmentation of the Guadalajara Cartel into several smaller
3:26
organizations despite these efforts the cartel lead ERS adapted and continued their operations the arrest of Felix
3:34
Gallardo did not end the drug trade but rather led to a new era of violence and
3:39
competition among emerging factions the once unified Guadalajara cartel
3:45
splintered into various groups each vying for control leading to the chaotic and violent drug wars that continue to
3:53
this day in conclusion the 1980s were a pivotal decade in the history of Mex
3:59
meic drug trafficking the guadara cartel's rise and fall set the stage for
4:05
the modern drug trade's complexities and ongoing conflicts join us as we continue
4:11
to explore this intricate and often tragic history shedding light on the
4:16
real events behind the headlines and dramatizations stay tuned for more
4:21
episodes where we'll delve deeper into the lives of these notorious figures and the Legacy they left behind Anton cororo
4:30
succeeded celes as governor in 1975 after the death of Alis Perez in a
4:36
1978 shootout with federal police Felix Gallardo took control of the
4:41
organization he was joined by former bookkeeper Ernesto fansa carolo nicknamed donu and childhood friend
4:49
Raphael Carol quino rumors suggest Don NATO ordered the feds to kill alss but
4:55
this remains unconfirmed born in bad in the early
5:00
1930s Don NATO was the son of one of the first opium Brokers and entered the drug
5:05
trade under the guidance of his maternal Uncle arrested in 1955 he learned the
5:11
importance of bribing law enforcement by the 1970s he was smuggling cocaine from
5:17
Ecuador through Mexico to the US earning the nickname Mr good price for his
5:22
negotiation skills Don NATO had four children but none were involved in the Guadalajara
5:29
cartel his nephew Amato Carillo Fuentes known as the lord of the Skies later became a
5:35
key figure in drug Transportation Raphael Caro quento a third generation
5:41
drug trafficker also Rose to prominence born between 1952 and 1956 he had many
5:48
family members in the trade despite a humble beginning he quickly climbed the ranks and became a major marijuana
5:55
cultivator developing a high seedless variety the n Narrative of the
6:00
Guadalajara cartel would be incomplete without mentioning joakin Guzman loera
6:06
better known as El Chapo born in 1957 he grew up working on an opium poppy
6:13
Plantation by his 20s he had earned a reputation for resolving delicate issues and became closely associated with gardo
6:21
ELO's story will be detailed in future discussions as it plays a crucial role
6:26
in understanding the cartel's evolution El Chapo's journey into the drug trade
6:32
began at a young age influenced by his family's connections by the age of 20 he
6:38
was already experienced in business matters and had earned a reputation for his problem solving skills over the
6:46
years his hard work and strategic thinking transformed him from a relative of Pedro a Perez to one of Felix
6:53
gallardo's trusted Associates in future videos we'll delve deeper into elapa
6:59
rise to power and his impact on the drug trade the caloa organization also
7:05
included other notable figures such as Ismael ELO zambada Hector elguero Palma
7:12
Salazar and the aurelino Felix Brothers Benjamin Romano Felix Brothers Benjamin
7:18
Ramon Francisco Javier and Eduardo these individuals and their families
7:23
controlled strategic locations within the drug Network and were known for their loyalty Family Ties played a
7:30
crucial role in building trust and reducing the risk of betrayal within the
7:36
organization in 1978 Operation Condor forced the organization's bosses to move
7:42
to guadara this joint effort by the American and Mexican governments aimed to reduce Opium poppy and marija crops
7:51
initially Fields were sprayed with pesticides that destroyed poppies but had little effect on marijuana the share
7:58
of Mexican heroin fell and the drug Market saw an influx of pure heroin from
8:04
Afghanistan subsequently the US began using a poison called paraquat to
8:10
destroy marijuana crops Farmers however continued to harvest and sell the poison
8:16
crops leading to health risks for consumers eventually Congress halted the
8:22
spraying and addicts turned to supplies from Colombia these shifts in drug production
8:28
and supply chain were pivotal in shaping the future of the drug trade influencing
8:33
both Mexican and Colombian operations to understand the influence
8:39
of Colombia on the events we are discussing it's crucial to grasp a few key points by 1978 nearly 75 of the US
8:48
marijuana Market was supplied by Colombia generating billions of dollars
8:54
annually this occurred amid a backdrop of political chaos following a a two
8:59
decade long Massacre between political factions allowing traffickers to establish their own distribution
9:06
networks in October 1978 Colombia's new president declared the drug economy a
9:12
threat to National Security and attempted to combat it until March 1980
9:18
but without success during this period a powerful organization began forming in mellan
9:25
aimed at controlling the cocaine trade initially Miami is Cuban traffickers
9:30
dominated a small wholesale cocaine Market catering mainly to other Cuban
9:36
immigrants however the entry of Colombians into the business led to the infamous Cocaine Cowboy war unlike the
9:43
Cubans Medellin gangs had access to a vast network of middleclass Distributors
9:48
along the USA East Coast Dia agents later concluded that the temporary
9:55
disruption of the Mexican marijuana industry caused by operation
10:00
directly led to the rise of the Colombian cocaine industry while US
10:05
Agencies struggled to control the violence in Miami medellin's cocaine networks expanded rapidly by 1982 Dia
10:14
agents discovered that medalin drug dealers had formed a cartel controlled by four major figures George oo Pablo
10:21
Escobar Carlos lefter and Jose rodrig gcha this cartel produced 80 of
10:28
Colombia's cocaine and became the wealthiest and most dangerous criminal organization in the world the situation
10:36
changed on June 24 1982 when President Reagan intensified the War on Drugs
10:43
deploying hundreds of FBI and D agents to Florida the main distribution point
10:48
for Colombian cocaine the Caribbean drug Transportation Route began to collapse under this pressure however as
10:55
enforcement squeezed one route traffickers found new ways to move their product the Colombians turned to Central
11:02
America and Mexico as new Transit routes leading to significant shifts in the
11:08
drug trade landscape as the United States saw an increase in cocaine shipments
11:13
traffickers sought new routes to smuggle the drug into North America Central
11:19
America and Mexico emerged as the primary Pathways compared to the Mexicans Colombians were relatively new
11:26
to drug Transportation establishing new mutual agreements between the drug lords of both Nations was crucial a pivotal
11:33
figure in this development was Ramen matab baleros a huran born in Tolan
11:39
1945 he became one of the largest employers in his country and a key player during the Golden Age of
11:46
cocaine in 1961 at the age of 16 ma immigrated to New York in search of the
11:52
American dream working as a casier in a supermarket after marrying a Colombian
11:57
woman he ended up in prison a place where he made valuable connections upon
12:03
his Escape ma began working with cocaine forming distribution networks with
12:08
contacts like Alberto Cecilia Falcon an early supplier of Colombian cocaine
12:13
seeking a safer base of operations matam moved to his native tusi Alpa Honduras
12:20
it was there that members of the medelin cartel found him requesting his assistance with Transportation through
12:27
Mexico Matas esta lished connections with rapael Caro Quintero and Miguel
12:32
Angel Felix Gallardo made this task straightforward for MATA this
12:37
partnership was an opportunity to expand his business becoming a member of both the medelin and guadara cartels when
12:45
Colombians began negotiations with the Mexicans The Proposal was straightforward Colombians owned the
12:51
product and could distribute it in the United States while Mexicans experienced in smuggling marijuana and heroin would
12:59
handled the transportation across the border this partnership revolutionized
13:04
the structure and profitability of Mexican organized crime the Mexican drug business had previously gone through
13:10
several phases from the Opium demand during World War IE and the 1950s to the
13:16
marijana boom of the 1960s and70s the arrival of cocaine in the early 1980s
13:23
particularly by 1984 became the main source of income for Mexican drug lords
13:29
compensating for the decline in marijuana exports and the stable but limited heroin Market the transformation
13:36
of Colombian cartels into efficient delivery operations for the US cocaine
13:41
Market not only compensated for declining revenues but also significantly increased their
13:48
profitability as profits grew so did their influence leading to the emergence
13:53
of paramilitary forces and widespread bribery of officials the drug trade
13:58
required extensive State protection integrating local police and highlevel
14:03
government officials into its operations the state and the drug business functioned as a single well-oiled
14:11
machine driven by the lucrative cocaine trade Pablo aosta a loyalist in the
14:17
caloa region played a pivotal role in this integration when Colombian leaders
14:22
approached the guad Lara cartel a Costa sent his nephew Amad Carillo Fuentes to
14:28
ensure the Deal's Integrity by late 1984 direct flights from Colombia to Ojinaga
14:35
began with a custa ensuring military protection for the shipments the cocaine
14:40
was stored underground and transported under heavy guard showcasing a sophisticated logistical system the
14:48
relationship between Colombian and Mexican cartels deepened over time initially Colombians paid in cash but as
14:55
the partnership evolved payments shifted to Goods this Arrangement allowed Mexicans to become not just Transporters
15:02
but Distributors competing directly with Colombian suppliers Miguel Angel Felix
15:08
Gallardo a key Mexican figure understood the importance of maintaining a low
15:14
profile while ensuring smooth operations through extensive bribery the vast profits from the
15:20
cocaine trade enabled drug traffickers to wield unprecedented power buying
15:26
weapons safe havens and even influencing governments the US demand for cocaine
15:32
and marijuana fueled this operation with streams of dollars flowing South despite
15:39
efforts by the da the intricate networks of drug trafficking remained largely Untouchable with the Mexican Government
15:46
restricting us reconnaissance and limiting diplomatic privileges for da
15:52
agents in summary the collaboration between Colombian and Mexican cartels
15:57
revolutionized the drug trade creating a powerful and profitable Enterprise that
16:03
leveraged State protection and extensive bribery to dominate the market agents
16:09
operating in Mexico faced significant challenges including restrictions on carrying firearms which made them
16:16
vulnerable to local officials when Ronald Reagan took office in 1981 he
16:22
declared a new approach to combating the drug trade focusing on reducing demand
16:27
despite this both both his domestic and foreign anti-drug programs saw limited success heavily influenced by political
16:35
and diplomatic considerations Latin American countries owed substantial debts to us creditors
16:43
and a direct confrontation with drug lords threatened major corporations and financial institutions Reagan
16:50
prioritized countering Soviet and Cuban influences over addressing the drug trade especially in strategic countries
16:57
like Panama and Mexico despite their corruption issues Reagan's Administration showed leniency towards
17:04
non-communist countries willing to resist Soviet and Cuban intervention
17:09
regardless of their corruption this policy frustrated de agents in Guadalajara who faced deteriorating
17:17
conditions and a facade of effective cooperation with Mexican authorities in reality figures like Ciro quino lived
17:25
opulently and openly wielding significant Lo local influence the badala Jara DEA office
17:33
staffed with a small team focused on uncovering the operations of major drug traffickers like Felix Gallardo led by
17:41
agents like Enrique Kiki kamarina they discovered that Gallardo was a major cocaine trafficker comparable to
17:48
Colombian drug lords despite the DA's presence in Mexico not one of these new
17:54
generation traffickers had been indicted in the US camarina a distinguished Marine Corps
18:00
veteran and experienced undercover agent found himself in a vastly different landscape in guadara his focus on
18:08
figures like Cairo Quintero revealed the scale and audacity of the drug operations which included vast
18:15
sophisticated marowa plantations these discoveries highlighted the shortcomings
18:20
of the official anti-drug campaigns and the Deep entrenchment of
18:25
corruption Kiki's career began with two years years of honorable service in the Marine Corps followed by positions as a
18:32
firefighter police officer and County deputy sheriff in his hometown in June
18:38
1974 he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration D after 3 years he was
18:44
transferred to Fresno County in Northern California by 1980 Kiki was assigned to
18:50
Guadalajara bringing with him extensive undercover experience and a family that
18:55
included his wife Micah and two children the landscape in Mexico was vastly
19:02
different from what Kiki had dealt with in the United States where his work mainly involved apprehending small-time
19:07
dealers and seizing drug shipments despite the dangers and high stakes the
19:12
scale of operations in guadara was on another level Kiki quickly immersed
19:18
himself in his assignments focusing on rapael CYO Quintero one of the Guadalajara cartel bosses known for his
19:25
flashy public lifestyle and popularity among locals in May 1982 one of Kiki's
19:32
informants provided a startling report a massive marijuana Plantation sanning 220
19:38
Acres was thriving in the San Louis pzi desert about 200 Mi Northeast of guadal
19:45
laara initially skeptical Kiki and his team were told that the plantation was
19:50
irrigated by an advanced system of underground Wells with marijuana plants already reaching 1 and 1/2 m in height
19:57
the plantation was allegedly owned by Raphael Kyo Quintero Don NATO and
20:03
elzu the existence of such a vast Plantation would undermine the Mexican government's eradication efforts which
20:10
claimed there were no large-scale Fields remaining since Operation Condor the Mexican Attorney General's office had
20:17
divided the country into zones for crop eradication supported by US Government
20:23
provided airplanes meant to survey these areas regularly a field of this size in
20:28
the desert would be easily visible raising suspicions about either bribery of officials or mismanagement of
20:36
American resources transporting marijuana posed significant challenges due to its strong
20:42
odor and bulk compared to more compact drugs like cocaine or heroin the only
20:48
way to profit significantly from marijuana was through large scale cultivation and sales this was difficult
20:55
in the rugged Sierra Madre but achievable in the flat arid Central Highlands of Mexico with
21:01
intensive irrigation and ample fertilizer akin to agricultural practices in California's Central
21:08
valleys Kiki's investigation revealed the deep-seated corruption and
21:14
inefficacy of the official anti-drug campaigns emphasizing the need for more
21:19
stringent oversight and accountability in the fight against drug trafficking in the early 1980s the DF
21:26
faced significant challenges in combating drug trafficking in Mexico one of their biggest hurdles was discovering
21:33
a massive marijuana Plantation in the S Louis pzi desert this Plantation owned
21:40
by key figures in the Guadalajara cartel was irrigated with Advanced systems and
21:46
guarded by corrupt officials despite the Dia's suspicions they needed more
21:51
evidence to convince the Mexican authorities and the US Embassy of its
21:56
existence DEA agent Enrique kikiki Kamara played a
22:01
crucial role in gathering information about the plantation his informants revealed details about the operation
22:09
including the involvement of high-ranking officials and the use of sophisticated agricultural
22:14
technology however obtaining aerial reconnaissance was challenging as they
22:20
required official escorts who were often part of the corruption in August 1982
22:26
camarina and his team managed to present enough evidence to the US Embassy leading to a joint operation with
22:33
Mexican authorities The Raid uncovered a vast well-maintained Plantation setting a record for the
22:39
amount of highgrade marijuana seized despite the success The Raid highlighted
22:45
the Dee rooted corruption within the Mexican Government and law enforcement following this operation
22:52
another significant Plantation owned by rapael Caro Quintero was discovered in
22:57
Sonora this raid also faced challenges with local officials attempting to
23:02
sabotage the effort the DA's persistence eventually led to the confiscation of some marijuana but the overall fight
23:10
against drug trafficking remained hindered by systemic corruption these events underscored the
23:17
complexities of the drug war where corruption and bureaucratic hurdles often impeded progress the Dia's efforts
23:24
while impactful revealed the need for a more comprehensive approach to address
23:30
the root causes of drug trafficking and corruption in early
23:35
1983 Dia agents in Guadalajara were beginning to understand the magnitude of
23:40
the Mexican drug trade and the extent of governmental complicity high-ranking
23:45
officials were essentially granting the drug traffickers C blanch for their operations creating an unofficial
23:53
agreement where everyone benefited from the arrangement however the government still still had to maintain the facade
24:00
of serving the state's interests which meant that it could be pressured into taking action by higher authorities such
24:06
as the President of the United States and senior members of his administration agent Kiki kamaren and
24:13
his colleagues faced numerous obstacles including corruption within the Mexican Federal Judicial police despite efforts
24:21
to gather and share intelligence they realized that much of their information was immediately leaked to the cartels
24:28
Karina's interactions with local police revealed that many were on the payroll of cartel leaders like rapael Caro
24:35
Quintero and Don NATO this mistrust led the DIA to stop sharing sensitive
24:41
information with the local police by mid 1983 camarina was convinced that Cairo
24:48
Quintero was cultivating extensive marijuana plantations across Mexico's
24:53
Central Highlands seeking to conduct aerial reconnaissance without relying on
24:58
rup Mexican Pilots camaria proposed operation Milagro a plan to Charter a
25:04
private plane and hire an independent pilot to gather evidence despite knowing
25:09
it was a long shot he pursued the idea believing it was crucial to uncover the
25:15
full scope of the drug operations meanwhile bureaucratic challenges in the US hampered efforts to
25:22
bring major cartel figures to Justice Customs agents in San Diego had uncovered a money laundering operation
25:30
linked to Don NATO and Raphael Caro quintero's relatives despite their
25:35
findings inter agency conflicts between the da customs and the US attorney's
25:41
office delayed crucial wir Taps allowing key suspects to evade capture the DA's
25:48
struggles underscored the complex and often frustrating nature of combating international drug trafficking as
25:56
camarina and his team continued their work they faced not only the formidable power of the cartels but also the
26:03
pervasive corruption and bureaucratic inertia that hindered their mission The
26:08
Diplomatic situation with Mexico became increasingly tense in the mid 1980s
26:13
particularly between officials in Mexico City and the Diaz Guadalajara office
26:19
this tension was exacerbated when Ed Heath was appointed as the DAT attache in Mexico City in mid
26:26
1983 according to source Heath was out of touch with the reality on the ground
26:31
and had a poor understanding of the situation he forged close relationships with officials at the Mexican Attorney
26:38
General's office and the headquarters of the Federal Judicial police especially its director Manuel iara Heath's
26:45
approach of befriending these flashy Mexican counterparts satisfied many US
26:51
Embassy political officials but led to friction with field agents field agents
26:57
viewed compromise as dangerous because they understood how the system operated
27:02
and what sustained it the issues of antagonism between the central office and field agents were not merely about
27:08
personal attitudes they were literally matters of life and death especially for
27:14
those who did not have the protection of diplomatic immunity like Ed Heath in the summer of 1983 after months
27:21
of identifying members of the cartel Network in Guadalajara Heath ordered agent Kendall to send him the names and
27:28
addresses he had obtained Heath promised to arrange a reliable task force of federal officers from Mexico City to
27:35
conduct Searchers reluctantly Kendall complied however the untainted federal
27:41
officers who arrived checked into a motel owned by none other than Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo when they started
27:47
searching all the addresses were empty and cartel members had vanished agents like Enrique Kiki
27:55
kamaren and his Partners had to spend months finding U addresses and phone numbers of gang members in May
28:02
1983 agent Pete Hernandez requested a transfer back to Texas expressing
28:07
frustration over the ineffectiveness and intimidation by Mexican feds a few
28:13
months later another agent Sears applied for a job in Bolivia hoping for a more
28:19
cohesive environment between Embassy staff and Dia agents The Guadalajara DEA
28:25
office faced numerous challenges including the need to uncover Felix gallardo's cocaine trafficking
28:31
operations unlike the labor intensive marijuana trade cocaine trafficking
28:37
required fewer people but involved significant financial transactions Sears
28:42
believed that analyzing these Financial transactions was the key to understanding the cocaine business
28:49
despite his efforts the Mexican Government refused to provide Bank details of drug
28:55
businessmen in 1982 d discovered that Felix gallardo's
29:00
organization had transferred $20 million through a single Bank of America account in one month this indicated that the
29:07
cartel could be making $200 million a year or more by Distributing their
29:12
assets among various Banks the proceeds from cocaine sales on the west coast were collected trucked to Guadalajara
29:20
deposited in gallardo's bank and then transferred back to the Bank of America in San Diego this money was then
29:27
converted into cashier checks and sent to South America to pay cocaine
29:32
producers these Financial transactions provided invaluable information to the DA revealing the origins of Felix
29:40
gallardo's cocaine supplies some checks were cashed in remote Colombian towns
29:47
While others ended up in Switzerland providing a clearer picture of the cartel's extensive
29:53
operations in summary the da struggled to combat drug trafficking in Mexico in
29:58
the 1980s was hampered by diplomatic tensions corruption and the intricate
30:04
Financial networks of the cartels despite these obstacles agents continued
30:09
to uncover Vital Information that helped them understand the complexities of the drug trade in the early 1980s the DIA faced
30:18
significant challenges in combating drug trafficking in Mexico one of their biggest hurdles was uncovering a massive
30:25
marijuana Plantation in the San Louis was ptoi Desert this Plantation owned by
30:31
key figures in the guad Lara cartel was irrigated with Advanced systems and
30:37
guarded by corrupt officials despite the Dia's suspicions they needed more evidence to convince the Mexican
30:44
authorities and the US Embassy of its existence de agent Enrique Kiki kamarina
30:51
played a crucial role in gathering information about the plantation his informants revealed details about the
30:58
operation including the involvement of high-ranking officials and the use of sophisticated agricultural technology
31:05
however obtaining aerial reconnaissance was challenging as they required official escorts who were often part of
31:12
the corruption in August 1982 camarina and his team managed to present enough
31:19
evidence to the US Embassy leading to a joint operation with Mexican authorities
31:24
The Raid uncovered a vast well-maintained Plantation setting a record for the amount of high-grade
31:30
marijuana seized despite the success The Raid highlighted the Dee rooted
31:36
corruption within the Mexican Government and law enforcement following this operation
31:42
another significant Plantation owned by Raphael Caro Quintero was discovered in Sonora this raid also faced challenges
31:50
with local officials attempting to sabotage the effort the DA's persistence
31:56
eventually led to the confiscation of another large marijuana field further exposing the extensive network of
32:02
corruption protecting these drug operations back in the United States the
32:08
government's focus on the Cold War often overshadowed the growing drug problem
32:13
while US Agencies were dealing with issues in South America Mexican drug traffickers continued to expand their
32:20
operations by the early 1980s marijuana seizures along the Southwest border had
32:25
increased fivefold since 19 1980 the guadara cartel nearly eradicated by
32:32
official reports was thriving Kiki kamara's investigation
32:37
reached a breakthrough in early 1984 an informant reported that drug lords from
32:43
Guadalajara had formed a Syndicate to finance thousands of Acres of marowa
32:48
plantations in zakus Durango and shihua this Syndicate included the top
32:55
30 figures in the Mexican drug industry in including Raphael Cairo Quintero and
33:00
Ernesto fona gillo to gather more evidence camarina
33:05
hired Captain Alfredo Zavala a former Mexican military pilot to fly over the
33:11
suspected marijuana Fields their findings confirmed the existence of vast
33:16
plantations back at the consulate camarina and his colleagues sent numerous reports about their discoveries
33:23
they learned that high ranking officials were not only turning a blind eye to the drug operations but were also investing
33:30
in them despite these Revelations the fight against drug trafficking faced
33:35
numerous obstacles including bureaucratic challenges and the overarching focus on geopolitical issues
33:42
the DIA agents continued their work determined to expose the corruption and bring the drug lords to
33:49
Justice in the mid 1980s the guadara cartel was at the peak of its power with
33:55
key figures like rapael Caro Quintero and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo managing
34:01
extensive drug operations across Mexico the cartel's influence extended deep
34:06
into political and law enforcement circles making it difficult for USC
34:12
agencies like the da to effectively combat their activities one notable incident involved
34:18
Dia agent Enrique Kiki kamarina who was deeply involved in investigating the
34:24
cartel's operations Karina's efforts led to sign significant discoveries about
34:29
the cartel's vast marijua plantations and sophisticated smuggling Roots
34:35
however his work also made him a Target despite numerous warnings and increasing threats kamarina continued his
34:42
undercover operations determined to expose the cartel's activities in a significant raid Mexican
34:49
authorities likely tipped off by us intelligence seized 150 acres of marijuana fields and 20 tons of
34:56
marijuana water although this was a substantial Hall it barely scratched the surface of the cartel's operations The
35:04
Raid made headlines but it didn't lead to the arrest of any major cartel figures instead it alerted the cartel to
35:12
Karina's activities putting him in Greater danger Karina's persistence paid
35:18
off when he identified new plantations in the desert states of Chihuahua Sonora
35:23
and beija California these discoveries indicated that the cartel was not deterred by the raids and continued to
35:31
expand its operations during this time Raphael Caro quento purchased
35:37
significant properties including a 25 acre estate in guadal Lara showcasing
35:42
his immense wealth and influence despite the DA's efforts corruption within the Mexican Government
35:49
and law enforcement hindered their progress reports indicated that herbicides meant to destroy drug crops
35:56
were often diluted or misused and US spray helicopters were
36:03
underutilized these challenges led to the development of operation Vanguard a plan to enhance Dia surveillance and
36:10
verify crop eradication claims however the operation faced internal
36:15
disagreements and logistical issues further complicating the anti-drug efforts tensions escalated in guadal
36:23
Lara as rival drug traffickers clashed leading to violent confrontations on the
36:28
streets the Dia's presence in the city became increasingly precarious with
36:34
agents facing direct threats and attacks in one incident agent Roger naps car was
36:40
fired upon highlighting the dangers faced by us agents operating in
36:45
Mexico despite these challenges the da continued to make significant seizures
36:51
including a $4 million cash Hall in Anaheim and, 1600 lb of cocaine in
36:58
Arizona these successes demonstrated the scale of the cartel's operations and the
37:03
ongoing need for international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking in summary the mid1 1980s
37:12
were a tumultuous period in the battle against the Guadalajara cartel the cartel's Dee rooted connections and
37:19
extensive operations posed significant challenges to us and Mexican authorities
37:25
The Bravery and persistence of Agents like Kiki kamarina played a crucial role in exposing the cartel's activities but
37:33
also highlighted the immense risks involved in this dangerous line of work
37:39
in the 1980s The Guadalajara cartel emerged as a dominant force in the
37:44
Mexican drug trade thanks to strategic alliances and Innovative smuggling
37:49
techniques the cartel's leaders including Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo
37:55
rapael Caro Quintero and nesto fansa cillo brought together various drug
38:00
trafficking groups and expanded their operations exponentially Operation Condor a joint
38:08
effort by the American and Mexican governments to eradicate drug crops forced many traffickers to relocate to
38:15
Guadalajara protected by corrupt officials the cartel flourished transforming into a well-organized and
38:21
highly profitable Enterprise They utilized Advanced farming techniques and established vast plantations making them
38:29
one of the most significant players in the illegal drug Market the cartel's
38:34
power was bolstered by its connections with politicians law enforcement and influential figures these relationships
38:42
allowed them to operate with impunity further solidifying their control over drug production and distribution however
38:50
this era of relative stability and growth came to an abrupt end with the murder of Dia agent Enrique Kamar Kiki
38:58
kamarina in 1985 Karina's death led to increased pressure from the US government
39:05
resulting in major crackdowns on cartel activities the capture of Felix Gallardo
39:11
in 1989 marked a turning point leading to the fragmentation of the guadal Lera
39:16
Cartel into smaller competing factions this splintering sparked a new era of
39:22
violence and competition that continues to affect the drug trade today
39:28
despite these challenges the cartel's influence persisted with leaders adapting to the changing landscape
39:35
figures like joa Queen El Chapo Guzman and Amad carilla Fuentes known as the
39:41
lord of the Skies Rose to prominence continuing the legacy of the guadal Lara
39:46
cartel and shaping the future of drug trafficking in Mexico the 1980s were a transformational
39:53
decade for the Mexican drug trade setting the stage for the comp Le Lex and ongoing conflicts that Define it
39:59
today the Guadalajara cartel's rise and fall illustrate the intricate web of
40:05
power corruption and violence that continues to underpin the Global Drug
40:10
trade in the mid 1980s the capture and eventual death of Dia agent Enrique Kiki
40:16
Camarena marked a significant turning point in the US government's approach to
40:22
combating drug trafficking Karina's brutal murder which involved severe torture
40:27
ignited a fervent response from the United States compelling The Mexican government to take decisive action
40:34
against the drug cartels and the corrupt networks that supported them key figures
40:39
in the Guadalajara cartel such as Raphael Caro Quintero Miguel Angel Felix
40:45
Gallardo and Ernesto fona cillo B NATO were heavily implicated in karena's
40:52
death Ciro Quintero in particular fled to Costa Rica but was soon after rended
40:57
and later sentenced to 92 years in prison for his crimes despite his capture Ciro quintero's influence
41:05
persisted he was released in 2013 due to procedural inconsistencies but was
41:10
recaptured in 2022 Ramon matab Ballesteros another
41:16
significant figure played a crucial role in the cartel's operations by facilitating the transportation of
41:22
cocaine through Mexico his arrest and extradition to the United States States
41:27
in 1988 despite being highly controversial and causing unrest in
41:32
Honduras demonstrated the USS commitment to dismantling cartel
41:38
activities the investigation into Karina's murder revealed not only the depth of cartel influence but also
41:44
hinted at potential K involvement in drug operations adding layers of
41:50
complexity to the case allegations suggested that the CIA had a hand in funding cont Rebels using Drug Money
41:57
further complicating The Narrative ultimately The Fallout from Karina's
42:03
death led to significant restructuring within Mexican law enforcement aimed at curbing corruption and bolstering
42:09
anti-drug efforts this period marked a critical juncture in the ongoing battle
42:14
against drug trafficking illustrating the intricate web of crime politics and
42:20
international relations the arrest of key figures in the Guadalajara cartel including Miguel
42:27
Angel Felix Gallardo marked a significant shift in the Mexican drug trade despite the government's efforts
42:34
these actions were insufficient to fully dismantle the cartel's operations Felix Gallardo known for his
42:41
extensive connections with high ranking officials continued to receive protection and support from political
42:47
allies even while evading capture in Mazatlan Sinaloa in the wake of Enrique Kiki
42:54
Camaro's murder us author ities intensified their Crackdown on cartel
42:59
leaders although many were apprehended Felix Gallardo remained at large
43:05
underscoring the Dual nature of the state's approach publicly waging a war on drugs while privately maintaining
43:12
beneficial relationships with traffickers by 1989 the political landscape shifted under President Carlos
43:19
selinus who sought to Reign Mexico's stance with us anti-drug efforts this
43:25
resulted in Felix gallardo's C capture a symbolic move that signaled the government's resolve Felix gallardo's
43:33
arrest however was not the end but the beginning of Greater fragmentation and
43:38
violence within the drug trade the absence of his unifying leadership led to feuds among former allies culminating
43:46
in the emergence of new fiercely competitive factions the once dominant
43:51
Guadalajara cartel splintered giving rise to powerful groups like The Sinaloa
43:57
Tijuana and jarez cartels each led by figures who previously operated under
44:03
Felix gallardo's umbrella the reorganization of these cartels brought about a new era of drug
44:09
trafficking in Mexico characterized by increased violence and strategic alliances leaders like joahan El Chapo
44:17
Guzman and Amad cillo fent capitalized on the power vacuum expanding their
44:23
operations and influence the competition among these factions contributed to an
44:28
Era of unprecedented brutality and territorial disputes the 1980s were transformative
44:35
for the Mexican drug trade driven by both external pressures from US anti-drug policies and internal power
44:43
struggles the downfall of the guad Lara cartel set the stage for the modern
44:49
landscape of organized crime in Mexico where fragmented but highly organized
44:54
groups continue to dominate the elic drug market and that's the story of the
45:00
rise and fall of the guadara cartel a tale of power corruption and resilience
45:07
if you found this video informative don't forget to give it a thumbs up share it with your friends and subscribe
45:14
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