Mario Cárdenas Guillén
Encyclopedia
Mario Alberto Cárdenas Guillén (born in Matamoros
, Tamaulipas
, Mexico
) is believed to be a top liutenant of the Mexican criminal group called the Gulf Cartel
.
on charges of organized crime
and drug trafficking and spent 11 years in prison. While incarcerated in the 'Cereso II' prison in Matamoros
, Mario Cárdenas continued to organize the shipment of large amounts of cocaine
and marijuana into the U.S. from an automobile body repair shop within the prison walls, having his sentence increased in 2003. He was then transferred to 'Puente Grande', a maximum security prison and after serving 11 year sentence he was released in 2007, and rejoined the Gulf Cartel
. Reportedly, he has headed operations on the Mexico-Guatemala border and also organized drug shipments into the U.S. for his brother Antonio
, aka: Tony Tormenta.
, who was killed during a confrontation with Mexican Marines on November 5, 2010.
Mario has one son, Mario Alberto Cárdenas-Medina, nicknamed El Betillo, who was captured along with three others by Mexican authorities in Matamoros, Tamaulipas
. He confessed to have be a top lieutenant of the Gulf Cartel
, under his uncle Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén
, co-leader of the organization. El Milenio reported that Cárdenas-Medina allegedly took control of the shipments of cocaine in the Playa Bagdad
area, before moving them north to the United States
.
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is believed to be a top liutenant of the Mexican criminal group called the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
.
Biography
Cárdenas was first arrested in 1995 in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on charges of organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
and drug trafficking and spent 11 years in prison. While incarcerated in the 'Cereso II' prison in Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Mario Cárdenas continued to organize the shipment of large amounts of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and marijuana into the U.S. from an automobile body repair shop within the prison walls, having his sentence increased in 2003. He was then transferred to 'Puente Grande', a maximum security prison and after serving 11 year sentence he was released in 2007, and rejoined the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
. Reportedly, he has headed operations on the Mexico-Guatemala border and also organized drug shipments into the U.S. for his brother Antonio
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén , nicknamed Tony Tormenta, was a Mexican drug lord and co-leader of the criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel...
, aka: Tony Tormenta.
Family
Mario had 2 brothers working for the Gulf cartel: Osiel who was arrested by the Mexican Army on 2003 and sentenced to 25 years in prison, and AntonioAntonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén , nicknamed Tony Tormenta, was a Mexican drug lord and co-leader of the criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel...
, who was killed during a confrontation with Mexican Marines on November 5, 2010.
Mario has one son, Mario Alberto Cárdenas-Medina, nicknamed El Betillo, who was captured along with three others by Mexican authorities in Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
. He confessed to have be a top lieutenant of the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
, under his uncle Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén , nicknamed Tony Tormenta, was a Mexican drug lord and co-leader of the criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel...
, co-leader of the organization. El Milenio reported that Cárdenas-Medina allegedly took control of the shipments of cocaine in the Playa Bagdad
Bagdad, Tamaulipas
Bagdad, Tamaulipas, Mexico was a town established in 1848 on the south bank of the mouth of the Río Grande. Moreover, this town is also known as the Port of Bagdad or the Port of Matamoros, since it is inside the municipality of Matamoros, Tamaulipas...
area, before moving them north to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
See also
- Drug war
- Mérida InitiativeMérida InitiativeThe Mérida Initiative is a security cooperation agreement between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America, with the declared aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and money laundering...
- Mexican Drug WarMexican Drug WarThe Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...