Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo

Born on a ranch in Bellavista, on the outskirts of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Félix Gallardo graduated from high school and studied business in college. He took a job as a Mexican Federal Judicial Police agent. He worked as a family bodyguard for the governor of Sinaloa state Leopoldo Sánchez Celis, whose political connections helped Félix Gallardo build his drug trafficking organization. He was also the godfather of Sánchez

Celis' son, Rodolfo.

Félix Gallardo started working for drug traffickers by brokering corruption of state officials, and together with Rafael Caro Quintero and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, who had previously worked in the Avilés criminal organization, took control of the trafficking routes after Avilés was killed in a police shootout.

Upon Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo's arrest at least nine of his nieces and nephews took over different roles within the organization, thus forming the Arellano Félix Organization, also known as the Tijuana Cartel.

Members of the Arellano Félix Organization (Tijuana Cartel)

Alicia Arellano Félix is his niece.

Benjamín Arellano Félix (Incarcerated), a member and former leader of the Arellano Félix Organization, is his nephew.

Carlos Arellano Félix is his nephew.

Eduardo Arellano Félix (Incarcerated) is his nephew.

Enedina Arellano Félix de Toledo, Leader of the Arellano Félix Organization, is his niece.

Fabian Arellano Corona is his grandnephew.

Francisco Javier Arellano Félix (Incarcerated) is his nephew.

Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix (Deceased) was his nephew.

Javier Benjamin Briseño Arellano is his grandnephew. Has also went by the name: Javier Gallardo and his son Javier R. Gallardo is estranged and unknown.

Luis Fernando Arellano Félix is his nephew.

Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano (Incarcerated) is his grandnephew.

Ramón Arellano Félix (Deceased), a member and former leader of the Arellano Félix Organization, was his nephew.

Sinaloa Cartel

Sandra Ávila Beltrán, a former member of the Sinaloa Cartel, is his niece.

Félix Gallardo kept a low profile and, in 1987, moved with his family to Guadalajara. He was arrested in Mexico on April 8, 1989, and was charged by the authorities in Mexico and the United States with the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, as well as racketeering, drug smuggling, and multiple violent crimes.

According to US officials, Félix Gallardo also spent time at the Sinaloa governor's house as a guest, which governor Antonio Toledo Corro had denied. When asked about his association with Félix Gallardo, governor Toledo said he was "unaware of any outstanding arrest warrants" against Félix Gallardo.

The arrest of Félix Gallardo was the catalyst for exposing the widespread corruption at political and law enforcement levels in Mexico. Within days of Félix Gallardo's arrest, and under pressure from the media, several police commanders were arrested with as many as 90 officers deserting.

Félix Gallardo's arrest also led to the dismantling of the Guadalajara Cartel, as key members of the federation chose to withdraw and form their own cartels, relying on violence to claim various territories and trafficking routes. The continuous disputes and conflict among the leaders would breed political, social, and military chaos, and eventually lead to the Mexican drug war.