Jorge Eduardo Costilla
Encyclopedia
Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, nicknamed El Coss, is a Mexican
drug lord
and the leader of the criminal drug trafficking organization known as the Gulf Cartel
.
city police officer, where he became familiar with the drug trade.
After Osiel Cárdenas Guillén seized control of the Gulf Cartel in 1995, he selected Costilla as his lieutenant. The Gulf Cartel is responsible for the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine
and marijuana into the United States
annually. After the arrest of the cartel leader Osiel Cardenas, Costilla took control and became partner with Heriberto Lazcano and Hector Manuel Sauceda Gamboa (El Karis). Sauceda was killed in a gun battle with the Federal Police on February 17, 2009, and Heriberto Lazcano formed his own rival cartel, Los Zetas
.
Costilla is one of a number of high ranking members of the Gulf Cartel who has been indicted in the United States for drug trafficking activities. Costilla has also been indicted for threatening U.S. law enforcement officials in November 1999. In that incident, FBI and DEA
agents in Mexico were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by a group of heavily armed men, allegedly including Costilla and other key members of the Gulf Cartel. Costilla and the other Cartel members were said to have pointed AK-47 rifles at the U.S. Federal agents and threatened to kill them. After a tense standoff, the FBI and DEA agents were allowed to leave.
After the death of Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén
in a gunfight with the Mexican Marines
on 5 November 2010, Costilla has taken full control of the Gulf Cartel and leads the war against Los Zetas
throughout Northeastern and Central Mexico.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
drug lord
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
and the leader of the criminal drug trafficking organization known as the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
.
Biography
Costilla was born on August 1, 1971. From 1992 to 1995 he worked as a MatamorosMatamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
city police officer, where he became familiar with the drug trade.
After Osiel Cárdenas Guillén seized control of the Gulf Cartel in 1995, he selected Costilla as his lieutenant. The Gulf Cartel is responsible for the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and marijuana into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
annually. After the arrest of the cartel leader Osiel Cardenas, Costilla took control and became partner with Heriberto Lazcano and Hector Manuel Sauceda Gamboa (El Karis). Sauceda was killed in a gun battle with the Federal Police on February 17, 2009, and Heriberto Lazcano formed his own rival cartel, Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
.
Costilla is one of a number of high ranking members of the Gulf Cartel who has been indicted in the United States for drug trafficking activities. Costilla has also been indicted for threatening U.S. law enforcement officials in November 1999. In that incident, FBI and DEA
DEA
DEA is the commonly used acronym for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a United States law enforcement agency.DEA or Dea may also refer to:- Organizations :* DEA , UK development education charity...
agents in Mexico were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by a group of heavily armed men, allegedly including Costilla and other key members of the Gulf Cartel. Costilla and the other Cartel members were said to have pointed AK-47 rifles at the U.S. Federal agents and threatened to kill them. After a tense standoff, the FBI and DEA agents were allowed to leave.
After the death of Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen
Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén , nicknamed Tony Tormenta, was a Mexican drug lord and co-leader of the criminal organization known as the Gulf Cartel...
in a gunfight with the Mexican Marines
Mexican Naval Infantry
The Naval Infantry are the marine corps and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the Infantería de Marina is to guarantee the maritime security of the country's ports and external and internal defense of the country, to accomplish these responsibilities the corps is...
on 5 November 2010, Costilla has taken full control of the Gulf Cartel and leads the war against Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
throughout Northeastern and Central Mexico.
Bounty
Mexico is offering a $30 million pesos (US$2.3 million) bounty. In the United States, he has been charged with 12 counts of drug trafficking and money-laundering and is also wanted for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million USD for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.See also
- Drug war
- Mexican drug warMexican Drug WarThe Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
- Mérida InitiativeMérida InitiativeThe Mérida Initiative is a security cooperation agreement between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America, with the declared aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and money laundering...
- List of Mexico's 37 most-wanted drug lords