Criminal Actors
Histories and profiles of organized crime groups, insurgencies, street gangs, vigilantes and the criminal actors that lead them.
Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, alias ‘El Coss’
Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, alias "El Coss," headed the Gulf Cartel, which has its headquarters in Tamaulipas, along the…
Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias ‘El Chapo’
Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzmán Loera, alias "El Chapo," heads up an alliance of powerful drug traffickers known…
Ismael Zambada García, alias ‘El Mayo’
Ismael Zambada Garcia, alias "El Mayo," heads a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Along his recently escaped partner, Joaquin Guzman…
Hector Beltran Leyva, alias ‘El H’
Hector Beltran Leyva, alias "El H," was the head of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) in Mexico. Once one of the most…
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias ‘Gabino’
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias "Gabino," was a peasant recruit who rose to become the commander in chief and political leader…
Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias ‘El Ingeniero’
Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias "El Ingeniero" or "Fernandito," was the enigmatic head of the Tijuana Cartel, until his capture in…
Erickson Vargas Cardenas, alias ‘Sebastian’ (Oficina)
Erickson Vargas Cardenas, alias "Sebastian," is a former hitman turned leader of the feared Oficina de Envigado organization that operates…
Eliecer Erlinto Chamorro, alias ‘Antonio Garcia’
Eliecer Erlinto Chamorro, alias "Antonio Garcia," is the number two commander in Colombias National Liberation Army (…
Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias ‘Tony Tormenta’
Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias "Tony Tormenta," headed up the financial and logistics side of the Gulf Cartel, which his brother,…
Alejandro Flores Cacho
Alejandro Flores Cacho runs the air operations of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. A mysterious figure, relatively little is known…
Heriberto Lazcano, alias ‘Z3’
Heriberto Lazcano, alias "Z3," was a former commander in the Mexican special forces, before going on to head the…
Daniel Barrera Barrera, alias ‘El Loco’
Daniel Barrera Barrera, alias "El Loco," was the closest thing Colombia has to a modern Pablo Escobar. Until his capture…
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