Ramón Arellano Félix
Encyclopedia
Ramon Arellano Félix was a Mexican
drug trafficker whom authorities linked to the Tijuana drug cartel
(aka the Arellano-Félix Organization).
At 188 cm (6 foot 2 inch) and 100 kg (220 lb), Arellano Félix was allegedly one of the most ruthless members of the cartel and was a suspect in various murders. Arellano Félix had been linked by Mexican police to the 1997 massacre of twelve members of a family outside of Ensenada, Baja California
. The family was related to a drug dealer that had an unpaid debt to the Arellano Félix Cartel.
On September 18, 1997, Ramon Arellano Félix became the 451st fugitive to be placed to the Ten Most Wanted list. Leading to his Most Wanted Fugitive listing in the United States
, he had been charged in a sealed indictment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
, with Conspiracy to Import Cocaine and Marijuana in drug trafficking.
Some of his aliases were "Patrón", "Colores", "Comandante Mon". He was believed to have a soft voice. He also had gold
incrustations in his gun. His favorite vehicles were Chevrolet Silverado
s and Chevrolet Tahoe
s. He also favored Chevrolet Suburban
s.
. Arellano's older brother, Benjamín Arellano Félix
, the cartel's mastermind, was arrested weeks later on March 9. The youngest of the Arellano brothers, Francisco Javier Arellano Félix
, was arrested with some associates at sea, by the United States Coast Guard
, on August 14, 2006. They were in international waters 25 km (15.5 mi) off the coast of Cabo San Lucas
, Baja California Sur
. He was extradited to the U.S. on September 16, 2006.
The only brother of the Arellano Félix cartel then at large, Eduardo Arellano Félix
, was captured by the Mexican Army
on October 26, 2008. At the time, the US State Department had been offering a reward of up to $5 million USD for information leading to his arrest. According to a Mexican official at the time of Eduardo Arellano Félix's capture, control of the cartel passed to Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano, son of Eduardo Arellano Félix's sister Alicia.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
drug trafficker whom authorities linked to the Tijuana drug cartel
Tijuana Cartel
The Tijuana Cartel is a Mexican drug cartel based in Tijuana. The cartel has been described as "one of the biggest and most violent criminal groups in Mexico"...
(aka the Arellano-Félix Organization).
At 188 cm (6 foot 2 inch) and 100 kg (220 lb), Arellano Félix was allegedly one of the most ruthless members of the cartel and was a suspect in various murders. Arellano Félix had been linked by Mexican police to the 1997 massacre of twelve members of a family outside of Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
. The family was related to a drug dealer that had an unpaid debt to the Arellano Félix Cartel.
On September 18, 1997, Ramon Arellano Félix became the 451st fugitive to be placed to the Ten Most Wanted list. Leading to his Most Wanted Fugitive listing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he had been charged in a sealed indictment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties in California: Imperial and San Diego. In terms of filed indictments, it is one of the busiest criminal districts in the United States...
, with Conspiracy to Import Cocaine and Marijuana in drug trafficking.
Some of his aliases were "Patrón", "Colores", "Comandante Mon". He was believed to have a soft voice. He also had gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
incrustations in his gun. His favorite vehicles were Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
s and Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
s. He also favored Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
s.
Death and aftermath
Ramon Arellano Félix was killed in a gun fight in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, where he was stopped due to a traffic infraction by a Mexican police officer who did not know at the time who Ramon Arellano Felix really was. Arellano Félix drew his gun and shot the police officer, who shot him back while falling to the ground on February 10, 2002. It is suspected that he was in Mazatlán to kill his bitter rival Ismael Zambada GarcíaIsmael Zambada García
Ismael Zambada García , also known as El Mayo Zambada, is a Mexican drug lord and one of the two Sinaloa cartel leaders...
. Arellano's older brother, Benjamín Arellano Félix
Benjamín Arellano Félix
Benjamín Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug trafficker and former leader of the Mexican criminal organization known as the Tijuana drug Cartel or 'Arellano-Félix Organization'.- Biography :...
, the cartel's mastermind, was arrested weeks later on March 9. The youngest of the Arellano brothers, Francisco Javier Arellano Félix
Francisco Javier Arellano Félix
Francisco Javier Arellano Félix , the brother of Ramón Arellano Félix, is a Mexican drug lord and leader of the Tijuana Cartel involved in drug-smuggling operations from Mexico to the United States....
, was arrested with some associates at sea, by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, on August 14, 2006. They were in international waters 25 km (15.5 mi) off the coast of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. He was extradited to the U.S. on September 16, 2006.
The only brother of the Arellano Félix cartel then at large, Eduardo Arellano Félix
Eduardo Arellano Félix
Eduardo Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug trafficker, brother of Benjamín, Ramón, Javier and sister Enedina, all drug traffickers. The Arellano-Félix Organisation, also known as the Tijuana Cartel, has been responsible for countless murders and the smuggling of thousands of tons of marijuana,...
, was captured by the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
on October 26, 2008. At the time, the US State Department had been offering a reward of up to $5 million USD for information leading to his arrest. According to a Mexican official at the time of Eduardo Arellano Félix's capture, control of the cartel passed to Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano, son of Eduardo Arellano Félix's sister Alicia.