The brother of the famed Amado Carrillo Fuentes, Vicente ran the cartel's security operation for a time. After his brother Amado died during plastic surgery in 1997, Vicente took over what was then the country’s most powerful cartel. However, his attempts to forge a "federation" similar to his brother's model failed. Indeed, Vicente has faced a nearly constant onslaught of competition from rival cartels, most notably the Sinaloa Cartel. Still, his longtime connections with local police and politicians and his increasing use of gangs like the Aztecas, who have a strong reach into the United States, have kept him from crumbling under the pressure.
Resources
- U.S. Department of State Narcotics Rewards Program: Vicente Carrillo Fuentes
- Mexico Attorney General's "Most Wanted Criminals"
- DEA Fugitives
- U.S. Department of Justice announced indictment (August 2009)
