At the heart of this cartel’s enduring legacy is Enedina Arellano Félix, a woman often overshadowed by her infamous brothers but whose role was crucial in the rise and survival of the Tijuana Cartel.
You may have heard of the Tijuana Cartel, in which Enedina, amongst with her five brothers, built one of the largest drug empires in Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration‘s (DEA) claim that the cartel’s reign ended with the 2008 arrest of Eduardo Arellano Félix, the last of the five brothers, the cartel’s operations persisted, albeit in a more subdued manner.
The Socialite Turned Cartel Leader
Enedina Arellano Félix was more than just a figure in the shadows; she was the cartel’s financial mastermind. Before her deep involvement in the cartel, she was a prominent socialite in Guadalajara, Jalisco. One of her most famous photographs is from her wedding, where she is seen in a stunning organza and lace dress, her image gracing the social pages of El Informador. But behind this glamorous facade was a woman with a sharp mind for business and finance.
Enedina, often referred to as “Narcomami,” allegedly took the reins of the Tijuana Cartel after the fall of her brothers, either by capture or assassination. The last of her brothers to be apprehended was Eduardo Arellano Félix in 2008. His arrest marked what many believed was the end of the cartel. However, Enedina, along with her son Fernando Sánchez Arellano, continued to steer the organization. Under her leadership, the cartel’s activities became more discreet, focusing on laundering money through legitimate businesses like pharmacies and real estate ventures in Guadalajara.
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The decline of the Arellano Félix Cartel coincided with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s first escape from prison in 2001. The following year, Ramón Arellano Félix, the youngest brother, was killed by men under Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. Shortly after, their main leader, Benjamín, was arrested. By 2013, Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix was murdered by a man dressed as a clown, and Francisco Javier was serving a prison sentence in the United States, set to end in 2030. Eduardo, after serving his sentence in the U.S., faced additional charges in Mexico in 2021.
As her brothers fell one by one, Enedina maintained a low profile, even as Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico portrayed her as “the hand that grinds the cradle,” the true leader behind the scenes. Under her guidance, the Tijuana Cartel, once one of Mexico’s most powerful, continued to operate, albeit with less visibility.
The Cartel’s Fragmentation
Following their conflict with El Chapo Guzmán and the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel reportedly split into two factions. One was led by Enedina’s son, “El Ingeniero” Fernando Sánchez Arellano, and the other by a figure known as “Teo.” According to Insight Crime, “Teo” sought an alliance with the Sinaloa Cartel, while Enedina and her son allegedly allied with Los Zetas. While the specifics of these alliances remain unclear, it’s evident that the Arellano Félix Cartel did not vanish but adapted to survive.
Enedina Arellano: The Key To Financial Brilliance
Often described as a Mexican accountant turned narcotrafficker, Enedina was undoubtedly the brains behind her brothers’ operations. Her ambition was to elevate the Tijuana Cartel from under the shadow of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo by securing their own cocaine supply. Despite initial resistance from her brother Benjamín, who feared crossing Félix Gallardo, Enedina’s persistence led to significant strategic moves.
Her influence extended beyond the cartel’s internal dynamics. Enedina and socialite Isabella Bautista launched their own drug smuggling operation, using female workers in the United States as mules. Although their partnership with Orlando Henao Montoya, leader of the Norte del Valle Cartel in Colombia, was lucrative, Enedina chose to end the alliance, prioritizing loyalty to her family.
After a significant drug bust at the Sylmar warehouse, Enedina convinced her brothers to break away from the Guadalajara Cartel and source their cocaine directly from the Cali Cartel. This decision marked a turning point, as the Tijuana Cartel began operating independently, further solidifying its power.
Today, her name remains synonymous with the enduring influence of the Arellano Félix Cartel, a testament to her role as one of the most powerful women in the history of organized crime.
