- Home>
- Gallery»
- Who Were the World’s Most Notorious Drug Lords? From El Mencho to El Chapo & Pablo Escobar
Who Were the World’s Most Notorious Drug Lords? From El Mencho to El Chapo & Pablo Escobar
The killing of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, has once again drawn global attention to the violent and complex world of drug cartels. As Mexico grapples with fresh waves of violence following his death, the spotlight has shifted to the most powerful and infamous drug lords who shaped the global narcotics trade over decades.
From Mexico’s cartel bosses to Colombia’s cocaine kingpins, these figures built vast criminal empires, evaded law enforcement for years, and left behind legacies marked by bloodshed, fear, and immense wealth.
Here is a visual look at some of the most notorious drug lords in modern history.
El Güero Palma – Sinaloa Cartel Leader
Jesús Héctor Palma Salazar, known as El Güero Palma, led the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo. He was arrested after surviving a plane crash in 1995 and later served prison time in the US. He is currently imprisoned in Mexico.
El Chapo Guzmán: Life Sentence in the US
Joaquín Guzmán Loera, famously known as El Chapo, rose through the Sinaloa Cartel ranks before becoming its leader. Known for dramatic prison escapes, he was extradited to the US and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.
El Mayo Zambada – The Cartel Strategist
Ismael Zambada García co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel and served as its chief strategist. For decades, he avoided arrest while running major trafficking operations into the US. Authorities recently detained him in the United States.
Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo – Boss of Bosses
Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo founded the Guadalajara Cartel and controlled nearly all drug trafficking routes in the 1980s. Arrested in 1989, he later received house arrest due to declining health.
Amado Carrillo – Lord of the Skies
Amado Carrillo Fuentes earned the nickname “Lord of the Skies” for his fleet of aircraft. He led the Juárez Cartel until dying during cosmetic surgery in 1997 under mysterious circumstances.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes – El Viceroy
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes led the Juárez Cartel after his brother’s death. Authorities arrested him in 2014, and courts sentenced him to 48 years in prison.
Pablo Escobar – Medellín Cartel Kingpin
Pablo Escobar built the Medellín Cartel into a global cocaine empire. Once among the world’s richest men, he was killed by Colombian forces in 1993.
Griselda Blanco – The Black Widow
Griselda Blanco played a key role in cocaine trafficking to the US. Known as the Black Widow, she was later killed in Colombia in a revenge attack.
Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela – The Chess Player
Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela co-founded the Cali Cartel and focused on bribery and political influence. He died in 2022 after being extradited to the US.
Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela – Cali Cartel Enforcer
Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela managed logistics and violent operations for the Cali Cartel. He played a key role in the cartel’s war against Pablo Escobar.
