Benjamín Arellano Félix
Benjamín Arellano Félix | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 12, 1952 |
| Other names | El Min |
| Occupation | Tijuana Cartel leader |
| Criminal status | Arrested in March 2002 |
| Criminal charge | Racketeering and money laundering |
| Penalty | 25 years in a USA federal prison + 22 years in a Mexican prison |
Benjamín Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug trafficker and former leader of the Mexican criminal organization known as the Tijuana Cartel or 'Arellano-Félix Organization'.[1]
Biography
Benjamín Arellano Félix, who worked closely with his brothers, was one of Mexico's most powerful drug lords and the supplier of a third of U.S.A.'s cocaine.[1] Benjamín had six brothers[citation needed]:
- Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix (born 24 October 1949) - Captured and released
- Carlos Arellano Félix (believed to be born 20 August 1955)
- Eduardo Arellano Félix (born 11 October 1956), - Captured
- Ramón Eduardo Arellano Félix (born 31 August 1964) - Deceased, shot by police in 2002
- Luis Fernando Arellano Félix (believed to be born 26 January 1966) is not currently wanted.
- Francisco Javier Arellano Félix (born 11 December 1969) - Captured
He also has four sisters, and Alicia and Enedina are most active in the cartel's affairs.[citation needed]
Benjamín was first arrested on June 18, 1982 in Downey, California for receiving 100 kilos of cocaine smuggled through the San Ysidro border, however, he escaped custody.[2] The Arellano Félix brothers obtained their first big break in 1989 when they inherited the organization from Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo after they showed early promise smuggling consumer electronics over the border.[1] By 1998, the Arellano brothers had been indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and his brother Ramón was put on the FBI's 10 most wanted list.[citation needed]
Despite the brothers' audacity, they remained untouchable for 13 years. This was done, in part, with large amounts of cash, bribing Mexican politicians and police commanders, at the cost of an estimated $1m USD per week.[1][3]
Benjamín Arellano tried to clear his name after the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo, in which he had been implicated. That high-profile assassination brought international attention to his trafficking organization and though, this forced Benjamín to lie low and adopt false names, he continued to live in casual confidence, apparently unafraid of capture.[1] Another of Benjamin's brothers, Francisco, was arrested soon after on drug charges and Benjamín, Ramón and Javier officially became fugitives.[citation needed]
Arrest
The U.S. DEA learned that Benjamín's oldest daughter had a very recognizable and rare facial deformity and that she was the "soft spot" in her father's violent life. By tracing her, they found her father.[3] Benjamin was arrested on March 9, 2002 by the Mexican Army in the state of Puebla, Mexico.[4] He had a $2 million USD bounty for his arrest.[3] Authorities are not sure where Arellano's money went, beyond some real estate investments in Tijuana. Mexican officials say it has been invested in U.S. real estate, while their U.S. counterparts say much of it is hidden in cash in Mexico. He was extradited to the United States in April 29, 2011 to face charges of trafficking cocaine into California.[5] On January 4, 2012 Benjamin Arellano Felix pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to launder money, and was sentenced to 25 years in jail on April 2, 2012.[6] He will be sent to Mexico first.[7]
External links
- PHOTO of Benjamín Arellano Félix.
(From: "Arellano Feliz se declara culpable en los Estados Unidos." Retrieved 11 March 2012.)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Blood brothers". The Guardian. Cocaine.org. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Members of the Arellano-Felix Organization
- ^ a b c How Officials Jolted a Cocaine Cartel ABC News, September 28, 2002.
- ^ "DEA CONFIRMS CAPTURE OF BENJAMIN ARELLANO-FELIX". U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. March 9, 2002. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ "Mexico home to record 1,400 drug-related deaths in April". Infosur Hoy. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ "Mexican drug lord who smuggled tons of cocaine into the U.S. and dissolved enemies in vats of caustic soda gets 25 years in jail in plea bargain". Mail Online. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ Which cartel is king in Mexico?