Benjamín Arellano Félix, born on March 12, 1952, in Sinaloa, Mexico, was the leader of the notorious Tijuana Cartel, one of the most powerful and violent drug cartels in Mexico during the 1980s and 1990s. Alongside his brothers, including Ramón and Eduardo, Benjamín built a criminal empire that operated mainly out of the border city of Tijuana, controlling much of the drug trafficking into the United States.
Founding of the Tijuana Cartel
The Tijuana Cartel, also known as the Arellano Félix Cartel, emerged from the rivalry between drug cartels in northwestern Mexico. While other cartels focused on central and eastern Mexico, the Arellano Félix family recognized that controlling the border crossings in Tijuana would give them a strategic advantage. This city offered direct access to California, one of the largest markets for illegal drugs in the U.S.
Benjamín was the business strategist behind the cartel. He managed smuggling routes and maintained relationships with suppliers in South America as well as buyers in the United States. His brother Ramón acted as the cartel’s enforcer, overseeing violent operations and protecting their territory. Together, they formed a deadly duo: Benjamín maintained the money and power, while Ramón ensured that no one dared challenge the cartel.
Rise and Methods
During the Tijuana Cartel’s peak, Benjamín was responsible for smuggling thousands of tons of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Under his leadership, the cartel earned a reputation for ruthless violence. The Arellano Félix brothers used intimidation and deadly force to eliminate their rivals and secure their smuggling routes. They were involved in numerous murders, kidnappings, and extortions on both sides of the border.
Benjamín’s leadership was marked by his ability to form strategic alliances with other cartels while aggressively targeting rival organizations. The brothers frequently clashed with the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, sparking one of the bloodiest periods in Mexico’s cartel wars.
The Fall
Though the Tijuana Cartel initially seemed untouchable, the Mexican and U.S. governments began to intensify their efforts against the organization in the late 1990s. Ramón Arellano Félix was killed in 2002 during a confrontation with Mexican police, dealing a significant blow to the cartel. Shortly after, in March 2002, Benjamín was arrested by the Mexican military during a raid in Puebla. His arrest marked a turning point for the Tijuana Cartel, which subsequently weakened.
In 2011, Benjamín was extradited to the United States, where he was convicted of multiple charges, including drug trafficking and organized crime. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His arrest and conviction signaled the beginning of the end for the once-powerful Tijuana Cartel, which has since fragmented.
Influence on the Mexican Drug War
Benjamín Arellano Félix played a crucial role in the history of Mexican drug trafficking. His leadership of the Tijuana Cartel contributed to the escalation of violence between various cartels, particularly in the battle for control over the lucrative smuggling routes into the United States. Although the Tijuana Cartel lost influence after his arrest, the legacy of the conflicts he and his brothers sparked continues to be felt in Mexico’s ongoing drug war.
His legacy is one of violence and corruption, but also of the business acumen required to build one of the largest criminal networks in the world.
