Date of Birth: August 1, 1971
Place of Birth: Mexico
Height: 5’10” Weight: 205 lbs.
Eyes: Brown, Hair: Brown
Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez, also known as “El Coss,” is believed to be the current leader of the former Osiel Cardenas Guillen Organization (Gulf Cartel) in Mexico. The Gulf Cartel is responsible for the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the United States annually. Cardenas Guillen was arrested in March 2003, and is currently incarcerated in Mexico. In his presumptive role as day-to-day leader of the Gulf Cartel, Costilla-Sanchez also allegedly leads the enforcement arm known as “Los Zetas,” which conducts kidnappings, murders and other violence on behalf of the Cartel to ensure safe transit of illegal narcotics into the United States.
Costilla-Sanchez 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-Sanchez 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 Cardenas-Guillen, Costilla-Sanchez and other key members of the Gulf Cartel. Costilla-Sanchez and the other Cartel members were said to have pointed AK-47 machine guns at the U.S. Federal agents and threatened to kill them. After a tense standoff, the FBI and DEA agents were allowed to leave. Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez is also charged in a 2008 Federal indictment in the District of Columbia with violations of Title 21 USC Sections 959, 960, 963, and Title 18 USC Section 2.
The U.S. Department of State is offering a REWARD OF UP TO $5 MILLION for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez.