Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, known as “El Azul,” was once a police detective who later emerged as a crucial peace broker among Mexico’s rival cartels. Renowned for keeping an low profile compared to his Sinaloa Cartel associates, Esparragoza is rumored to have died from a heart attack in 2014.

History

Esparragoza was a police detective turned drug trafficker. He acted as peace broker and ad hoc intermediary among different drug trafficking organizations. Although not as well-known as his business partners Ismael Zambada García, alias “El Mayo”, and Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias “El Chapo,” his story in the drug business was long. He began working for the Guadalajara Cartel and may have played a part in the murder of antinarcotics officer Enrique Camarena in 1985. After serving a seven-year prison sentence and being released in 1992, he joined the Juárez Cartel under Amado Carrillo Fuentes until Carrillo’s death in 1997.

As El Chapo served time in prison, Esparragoza helped him keep his business running, and after El Capo’s escape in 2001, Esparragoza became one of the Sinaloa Cartel leaders along with El Mayo. His family ties ran deep within cartel circles: he married El Chapo’s sister-in-law, became godfather to Amado Carrillo’s son and El Mayo’s nephew, and saw one of his sons marry into the Beltrán Leyva family.

Criminal Activities

Beyond his central role in directing Sinaloa Cartel operations, Esparragoza was a trusted negotiator among Mexican cartels, leveraging his extensive connections to maintain alliances and manage tensions.

Geography

During his criminal career, Esparragoza worked for the Guadalajara, Juárez, and Sinaloa cartels, which operate in northeastern Mexico. He also had an international presence.

Allies and Enemies

Given his family ties with important cartel members, Esparragoza was allied with important criminal leaders like El Chapo and El Mayo.

Prospects

Esparragoza is believed to have died of a heart attack on June 7, 2014, as he recovered from injuries sustained during a car crash. However, Mexican cartel leaders have been known to fake their deaths to escape authorities.