ALIASES: “El Indio,” “Chayan”
DOB: February 24, 1965
POB: Mexico
NATIONALITY: Mexican
CITIZENSHIP: Mexico
HEIGHT: 6 feet 1 inch
WEIGHT: 205 pounds
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Brown
The Sinaloa drug trafficking organization is considered one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations currently operating in the Republic of Mexico, with distribution cells throughout the United States. Through a union of groups, the Sinaloa cartel became responsible for the manufacture, acquisition, storage, importation, and distribution of multi-ton quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States, as well as the transportation of millions of dollars from the United States to Mexico.
Although originally a part of the Sinaloa cartel, Arturo Beltran-Leyva broke ties with the organization in 2008 and established the Arturo Beltran Leyva (ABL) drug trafficking organization with several other former Sinaloa cartel members. Today, the ABL is responsible for the procurement of arms and ammunitions from the United States in furtherance of their criminal enterprise and is responsible for the trafficking of illicit drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine. The ABL is also credited with rising rates of violence within Mexico, as they are reportedly responsible for kidnapping, torture, murder, and various other acts of violence against numerous men, women, and children in Mexico. The ABL’s enforcement arm, the Fuerzas Armadas de Arturo, is considered one of the most ruthless and brutal in the way they dispose of their enemies. The organization is connected with the assassinations of numerous Mexican law enforcement officials.
Jose Gerardo Alvarez-Vasquez was a key member of the ABL drug trafficking organization and believed to be responsible for facilitating communications between ABL hierarchy and Central and South American sources of supply for cocaine. Alvarez-Vasquez was also believed to be responsible for overseeing the ABL narcotics-related activities in multiple cities of Mexico and to be actively involved in major bulk crystal methamphetamine procurements. He coordinated the movement of illegal narcotics into the United States and oversees the repatriation of narcotics-related proceeds. Alvarez-Vasquez was charged in a 1997 four count indictment in the Southern District of California. Alvarez-Vasquez was arrested by Mexican authorities in April 2010.