The recent relationship between the popular corridos tumbados singer Peso Pluma and Diana Rosalía Esparragoza has once again brought attention to the name of Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, known as “El Azul.”
This organized crime leader is said to be Diana’s grandfather, who has been spotted with the singer strolling in Paris. She presents herself as an influencer, boasting over 170,000 followers on Instagram and more than 45,000 on TikTok.
Read also: Peso Pluma’s New Girlfriend Who May Be Linked to a Dangerous Mexican Root
But why is she linked to drug trafficking? How does she connect to “El Azul”? Let’s explain.
What is known about Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, “El Azul”?
Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, known as “El Azul,” has been one of the most influential and elusive leaders in the drug trade in Mexico. Born on February 3, 1949, in Badiraguato, Sinaloa, he started as a police officer in the Federal Security Directorate (DFS), where he established key connections in the criminal world. This background in the Mexican police system allowed him to strategically grow in drug trafficking while cultivating a reputation as a diplomat and peacekeeper.
In the 1970s, Esparragoza co-founded the Guadalajara Cartel alongside figures like Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo and Rafael Caro Quintero. The organization monopolized drug trafficking to the United States, especially cocaine, collaborating with Colombian drug traffickers. Using the DFS as cover, the cartel established a vast network of operations, attracting the attention of the DEA. Following the murder of agent Enrique Camarena in 1985, Esparragoza was arrested in 1986 but regained his freedom in 1992.
In the 1990s, Esparragoza Moreno joined the Juárez Cartel under the leadership of Amado Carrillo Fuentes and later became a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel.
“El Azul’s” ability to mediate and forge alliances kept him on the radar of both U.S. and Mexican authorities, who offered up to $10 million for his capture.
In 2014, reports circulated about his death from a heart attack in Mexico City, but no conclusive evidence confirmed this.
His figure remains shrouded in mystery, with a legacy marked by strategy and discretion, characteristic of one of the most complex eras in drug trafficking in Mexico.
Regarding his relationship with the influencer, Diana is the daughter of Juan Ignacio Esparragoza, who is also the son of El Azul. Diana’s father passed away in 2012 after falling from a fourth-floor apartment in the San Miguel residential area of Guadalajara.
Peso Pluma and his connection to organized crime
Peso Pluma’s connection to Diana Rosalía Esparragoza, the granddaughter of a high-profile drug lord, adds a layer of complexity to the singer’s image, as this is not the first time he has been linked to organized crime.
Here are some notable instances:
- Narcocorridos: Peso Pluma has admitted that criminal groups contact him to write narcocorridos about them. This has generated controversy and criticism.
- Narcomantas: In October 2023, a narcomanta signed by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel appeared, demanding that Peso Pluma cancel a performance in Tijuana.
- Friendship with Nini: Reports have indicated that Peso Pluma is friends with Nini, the head of security for Los Chapitos, a group linked to organized crime.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Cora Bravo in Cultura Colectiva.
