Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, also known as "El Padrino" or "The Godfather," was a prominent Mexican drug lord and one of the founders of the Guadalajara Cartel, which later evolved into the powerful Sinaloa Cartel. He played a significant role in the early days of the drug trade in Mexico. However, his empire eventually came crashing down due to a crucial mistake.
The biggest mistake made by Félix Gallardo was ordering the kidnapping, torture, and murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Kiki Camarena was working undercover in Mexico to expose the cartel's operations and had made significant progress in gathering intelligence on the drug trade.
On February 7, 1985, Kiki Camarena was abducted in Guadalajara by members of the Guadalajara Cartel on the orders of Félix Gallardo. He was subjected to brutal torture for several days before being killed. The murder of a U.S. DEA agent was an unprecedented and audacious act that drew intense scrutiny and outrage from the United States.
As a result of Kiki Camarena's death, the U.S. government launched an extensive investigation, known as "Operation Leyenda," to bring those responsible to justice. The pressure from the U.S. government and law enforcement agencies significantly disrupted Félix Gallardo's operations and led to the dismantling of his drug empire.
In 1989, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo was arrested in Mexico and later convicted for his involvement in Camarena's murder and other drug-related charges. He was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
The downfall of Félix Gallardo demonstrated the U.S. government's commitment to combating drug trafficking and its readiness to take strong action against those who harm American law enforcement agents. It also led to the fragmentation of the Guadalajara Cartel, giving rise to other powerful drug cartels in Mexico, such as the Sinaloa Cartel led by Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.