Narcoland: The Mexican Drug Lords and Their Godfathers (25 page)

Heriberto Lazcano, a.k.a. El Verdugo (The Executioner): “Lazcano [is] one of the founders of Los Zetas, the indestructible group that for years was the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel. Today it is regarded by the United States government as an ‘international threat.’ ” (p. 200)

Anti-Chapo graffiti on a wall in the Juárez Valley east of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

Vicente Fox, president of Mexico 2000–06: “The rules governing the relation between drug traffickers and government changed forever during the Fox administration: the public officials became employees of the drug traffickers, and their armed wing.” (p. 195)

Felipe Calderón, president of Mexico 2006–12: “The US Drug Enforcement Administration says that during Calderón’s six-year term, Guzmán became the most powerful drug trafficker in history while his enemies were decimated. El Chapo’s empire is Calderón’s chief legacy.” (p. 8)

A man killed execution style on the banks of a river in Culiacán, Sinaloa, the cradle of many of the drug cartels and their leaders in Mexico.

Juan José “El Azul” Esparragoza Moreno: “El Chapo, El Mayo, and El Azul are firmly in control of an empire. Between them they have achieved a virtual monopoly of narcotics trafficking in Mexico and the United States, a dominion based on blood, sweat, and tears.” (p. 301)

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia (pictured right): “Within the organization, El Mayo has been seen as the man behind El Chapo’s throne … Of all the drug barons, El Mayo is the one that provokes the most contradictory reactions. He is either loved or hated. There is nothing in between.” (pp. 180, 184)

Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez Villarreal: “As the time of our meeting approached, my heart was racing. I had waited seven years for this moment. In the course of my research I had spoken to many people inside and outside of the law, but never had a drug baron or one of their employees wanted to make a direct, public confession.” (p. 309)

Amado Carrillo Fuentes: “While exporting historic quantities of hard and soft drugs to the United States, Amado Carrillo Fuentes forged close links with the Mexican political, military, and business class, who gladly laundered the millions of dollars he gave them.” (p. 111)

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes: “The organization created by Amado Carrillo, which was then one of the most powerful in Latin America, was eventually handed to Vicente Carrillo, El Viceroy.” (p. 177)

Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel Villarreal: “Ignacio Coronel acquired most power as a pioneer in the drugs of the future, ephedrine and methamphetamine, made in clandestine labs in Jalisco. Nacho supplied the huge market for these synthetic drugs in the United States—a market that is now controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel.” (p. 189)

George W. Bush at the border: “By concentrating on the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas, US authorities allowed The Federation to grow exponentially under their very noses, on their own side of the border.” (p. 231)