Juan José Esparragoza Moreno

Juan José Esparragoza Moreno
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno
Born	February 3, 1949 Huichiopa, Sinaloa, Mexico
Other names	Z-40, "El Azul"
Occupation	Juárez Cartel drug lord
Height	5'8"
Weight	200 Pounds
Spouse(s)	Gloria Monzón
Notes Rewards: $2 million dollars reward in Mexico,[1] and the U.S. DEA is offering $5 million dollars.[2]

Juan José Esparragoza Moreno (born February 3, 1949) a.k.a: El Azul (Spanish: "Blue"), is a former Mexican Federal Judicial Police (PJF) officer turned drug trafficker. Esparragoza was born in Huichiopa, Sinaloa. Esparragoza's nickname, "El Azul", derives from his complexion, he is said to be so dark his skin appears to be blue.^[2][3]

Guadalajara Cartel

Esparragoza's trafficking career dates back to the Guadalajara Cartel under Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. Following the arrest of Gallardo, it is believed Esparragoza moved to the leadership role within the Guadalajara Cartel prior to its dissolution. Gallardo bestowed upon his nephews who operated the Juárez Cartel, the location and operations of the Guadalajara Cartel.^[4][5]

Enrique Camarena

Esparragoza was believed to have had a role in the death of United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique Camarena. In 1982, Camarena was informed of a large scale marijuana growing operation in which Carrillo, Esparragoza and Quintero, had turned 220 acres (0.89 km²) of land near San Luis Potosí into a marijuana field. The DEA began to do aerial reconnaissance and eventually committed to raiding the field, seizing 200 tons of marijuana. The DEA however failed to apprehend anyone, rumored to be due to a PJF officer informing the cartel members of the pending operation.^[3]

Camarena, along with his pilot, Alfredo Zavala, were kidnapped on February 7, 1985, tortured and murdered by the Guadalajara Cartel for his role in hindering their operations.

Juárez Cartel

Esparragoza is believed to have joined the Juárez Cartel (Carrillo Fuentes Organization) in 1993 where he operated as a top lieutenant and operations chief.^[2][6] Following the death of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, in a plastic surgery accident, Esparragoza was rumored to have assumed a leadership position alongside Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, brother to Amado, and Héctor Luis Palma Salazar. The cocaine and trafficking connection he created in Peru and Colombia are believed to have made him a primary leader in the Juárez Cartel.^[5][7]

In addition to cocaine contacts, Esparragoza is also known as a peace maker, forging alliances between other major cartels and resolving disputes. Most recently he has been linked to negotiating peace deals in Nuevo Laredo between the Juárez Cartel and Heriberto Lazcano of Los Zetas as well as Jorge Eduardo Costilla of the Gulf Cartel.^[7][8]

The Federation / Sinaloa Alliance

Esparragoza has most recently been linked to leading "The Federation" (Sinaloa Alliance), an alliance of the Sinaloa, Juárez and Sonora (Caro-Quintero Organization) cartels.^[8]

Nuevo Laredo

The Federation has most recently been noted in a violent drug war against the Gulf Cartel to control the Nuevo Laredo border regionWith more than 10,000 trucks and 1,200 rail cars crossing the four bridges joining Laredo and Nuevo Laredo per day, the location has become a fight for control of the United States–Mexico border. Since fighting erupted in 2003, over 1500 deaths between the cartels have occurred, 900 within the first 6 months of 2005.^[9]

In the battle for Nuevo Laredo, is the Gulf Cartel controlled Los Zetas, headed by Lazcano. Los Zetas are a para-military group of former GAFE (Airborne Special Forces Groups) soldiers. Los Zetas, originally trained to hunt down cartel members on behalf of the Mexican government, soon defected to work for the Gulf Cartel. To counter Los Zetas, Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez Villarreal, a lieutenant in the Sinaloa Cartel, created "Los Negros", an alternate para-military group comprised of rogue members of Los Zetas as well as other Mexican special forces.^[10][11][12]

Corruption

It is believed such operations in Morelos were under the direction of Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno and Vicente Carrillo Leyva. Carrillo is the nephew of Vicente Carrillo Fuentes and considered one of the leaders of the cartel.^[13]

Alberto Pliego, member of the Mexican Federal Preventative Police was arrested following accusation for protecting smugglers and Juarez Cartel members.^[14] Esparragoza's connections to the FJP are believed what allows him to operate without detection. Esparragoza is believed to be transported by Federal Judicial Police, in a heavily armed caravan.^[2]

Esparragoza is currently wanted by the United States DEA with a US$5 million reward for information leading to his capture,^[2] while Mexico is offering a $2 million dollars reward.^[1]

See also

• Guadalajara Cartel
• Juarez Cartel
• Los Zetas
• Sonora Cartel
• United States–Mexico border
• Vicente Carrillo Fuentes

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Mexico's most wanted traffickers, at $2 million". Associated Press. March 23, 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hEF2DTDXyyzoKSxZMlHivEQ3JhGgD973UF7G0. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Valdez, Diana Washington (2006). The Killing Fields: Harvest of Women. Peace at the Border. pp. 120. ISBN 0-61514008-4. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Nash, Jay Robert. World Encyclopedia of Organized Crime. Da Capo Press. pp. 155. ISBN 0-30680535-9. 
4. ^ Richards, James R. (1999). Transnational Criminal Organizations, Cybercrime, and Money Laundering: A Handbook for Law Enforcement Officers, Auditors, and Financial Investigators. pp. 23. ISBN 0-84932806-3. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Leaders of Mexican Narcotics Cartel Added to Treasury Dept. List". United States Department of the Treasury. November 2, 2004. http://usinfo.state.gov/ei/Archive/2004/Nov/29-768091.html. 
6. ^ Rodriguez, Olga R.. "Juarez drug gang forms alliances to control border". Associated Press Writer. http://www.staugustine.com/stories/021305/wor_2887096.shtml. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Organized Crime and Terrorist Activity in Mexico, 1999-2002" (PDF). Library of Congress. February 2003. http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/OrgCrime_Mexico.pdf. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Alfredo Corchado (June 25, 2007). "Mexican cartels in talks to split turf". The Dallas Morning News. 
9. ^ "Mexico: Fox's Uphill Battle to Win the Drug War". Stratfor: Strategic Forecasting, Inc.. June 29, 2005. http://www.stratfor.com/mexico_foxs_uphill_battle_win_drug_war. 
10. ^ Bunker, Robert (July 2005). Networks, Terrorism and Global Insurgency. Routledge. pp. xv. ISBN 0-41534819-6. 
11. ^ Weak bilateral law enforcement presence at the U.S.Mexico border. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. November 2005. 
12. ^ Texas Monthly On . . .: Texas True Crime. University of Texas Press. April 2007. pp. 44. ISBN 0-29271675-3. 
13. ^ SourceMex Economic News & Analysis on Mexico. "Political Corruption Scandals Continue". April 24, 2004. 
14. ^ "Mexico captures ex-federal agent with reputed drug links". Associated Press. February 7, 2005. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20050207-1951-mexico-drugs.html.