20 Infamous Cartel Assassinations And Hits

20 Infamous Cartel Assassinations And Hits

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at some of the most shocking and notorious acts committed by cartels.

Hugo Hernandez

When cartels feud with one another, the consequences are brutal. One of the worst examples occurred in 2010. Hugo Hernandez had been in Sonora– an area known for growing illicit substances– when he was suddenly captured and taken to Sinaloa. Days afterward, his remains were found scattered around Los Mochis. Not only had he been severed into seven pieces, his face had been removed and reattached to a soccer ball. Along with the gruesome scene was a threatening note. It’s believed he was used to send a message to the Juárez cartel from one of their adversaries, although the reason he was specifically chosen is still unknown.

The 2011 Durango Massacres

In 2011, authorities in Durango, Mexico learned the true extent of how intense cartel rivalries could be. Hundreds of bodies were discovered in mass graves throughout the city. While many of the victims were unidentifiable, some were believed to have been enemies of the infamous Sinaloa cartel. There had also reportedly been internal tensions that may have contributed to the violent outcome. Seven makeshift burial grounds were discovered, including in seemingly benign places such as auto shops. Despite the sheer amount of people that had been slain, little progress was made in finding the culprits responsible, and they remain unidentified more than a decade later.

Morelia Grenade Attacks

Not even national celebrations are safe from the cruelty of organized crime. On September 15, 2008, thousands gathered in Morelia to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Then, suddenly, two grenades were thrown. The blast led to the deaths of eight people, along with over 100 being injured. In an instant, what had once been a joyous occasion had been turned into one full of violence and heartbreak. La Familia Michoacana was blamed, who in turn pinned it on another cartel, Los Zetas. While members of the latter were initially arrested, the true culprit is unknown. Now, a day that many once associated with freedom is now tainted with the memories of the violent act.

Adler Berriman “Barry” Seal

Aligning with the cartel is dangerous enough. Turning your back on them is a death sentence. United States citizen Barry Seal learned that when he was assassinated by the very group he worked for. It began years earlier in 1981, when he began transporting illegal substances for the Medellín Cartel. That same year, the DEA caught wind of his operation, and it wasn’t long before he was caught. Seal then agreed to work with the government in a sting operation. The act won him his freedom– but turned the criminal organization against him. In 1986, he was approached by a contract killer and silenced for good. His demise remains a warning about the potential deadly consequences that may come with working with those crime syndicates.

Nepomuceno Moreno Núñez

Nepomuceno Moreno Núñez became an activist following the sudden disappearance of his son in 2010. He spoke out against the cartels and even took his concerns to the nations’ leader. As such, he was threatened with death– but even with those looming threats, Núñez wasn’t offered any protection. In November of 2011, those threatening them made good on their promise. He was assassinated while crossing the street, targeting both him and his message at once. The fact that he was attacked despite his nonviolent approach sent a message that anyone speaking out against them wasn’t safe from their wrath.

Roberto Javier Mora García

Journalists are also at risk – and there’s no better example than Roberto Javier Mora García. He contributed to several publications in Mexico, and a good portion of his work addressed the government’s relationship with the Gulf Cartel. Whether he called out specific authorities or revealed the identities of traffickers, it was clear he prioritized the truth over the potential repercussions. On March 19, 2004, Garcia was stabbed over two dozen times. To this day, his assassin is still unknown– and with the one confirmed suspect having been killed in prison, it doesn't seem this case will be solved any time soon.

Antonio Roldan Betancur

An assassination doesn’t have to be intentional to be infamous. In 1989, Antioquia governor Antonio Roldan Betancur was driving through the city when a car rigged with explosives was detonated as he drove past. The impact of the blast was so severe that five other people perished and his vehicle was launched in the air, which led to immense damage to multiple homes in the area. In one brutal moment, the state had lost its leader. His death was made even more senseless by the realization that he hadn’t been the target in the first place, but rather the local police commander. It was eventually revealed that one of Medellín Cartel’s most prominent members had been involved with the fatal incident.

The 2012 Nuevo Laredo Massacres

One of the most violent conflicts occurred in 2012, between the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. Both organizations wanted control over the border city of Nuevo Laredo. On May 4th, nine bodies were discovered hanging from a public structure. They were allegedly Gulf syndicate members targeted by Los Zetas. Hours later, another 14 headless bodies were found abandoned in a car, which was believed to have been a counterattack. The brutal attacks highlighted the animosity between the two groups, and how both had no regard for the humanity of their enemies.

The Tijuana Rampage

There have unfortunately been multiple corruption cases involving the Mexican police force. While some have simply ignored criminal activity, others have gotten directly involved in it. However, that hasn’t given them total immunity from cartels. In 2023, some officers learned this the hard way after they snatched a multi-kilo shipment of illicit substances reportedly meant for the Sinaloa Cartel. It didn’t take long before the syndicate enacted their revenge, shooting at federal buildings. Six officers were killed and five more injured. It highlighted the extreme violence taking place, and showed that citizens couldn’t even trust the police to have their best interests at heart.

Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo

Whether it was a case of mistaken identity or a planned attack, the cartels’ presence is the main catalyst for a religious leader’s death. In 1993, Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo was shot more than two dozen times by hitmen enlisted by the Tijuana Cartel. According to official reports, they’d been tasked with taking out infamous kingpin El Chapo, and had gotten them confused. However, others believe that the Cardinal was targeted by the government to prevent their supposed connections with trafficking circles from coming to light. The leader of the Tijuana syndicate was charged with conspiracy following the Cardinal's death. However, those closest to Posadas claimed he’d been threatened by them weeks beforehand.

Fernando Villavicencio

Before entering politics, Villavicencio was an investigative journalist who criticized former president Rafael Correa. As such, he spent time in prison and in exile. After Ecuador’s National Assembly was dissolved, Villavicencio ran for the presidency. In August 2023, after getting threats from gangs, he was leaving a campaign rally in the capital city, Quito. Just as Villavicencio got to his car, he was ambushed and fatally shot. The assassin, Johan David Castillo López, also threw a grenade, which thankfully didn’t go off. Nine people were injured, and López died from gunshot wounds. The criminal group Los Lobos claimed responsibility for the attack, but this is disputed. Several people were arrested in connection with the assassination. However, all of them were killed in prison.

Rodrigo Lara

In 1983, Lara was appointed Colombia’s Minister of Justice by President Belisario Betancur. He soon began targeting criminal organizations, corrupt politicians, and Pablo Escobar and his group, the Medellín Cartel. Lara’s interference contributed to Escobar’s expulsion from Congress and investigation by authorities. In April 1984, Lara was traveling in a convoy when Byron Velasquez and Ivan Dario Guisado, paid by the Medellín Cartel, drove up to his vehicle on motorbikes and opened fire, killing the Minister. While Guisado was slain by Lara’s bodyguard, Velasquez was later arrested for the assassination and then paroled in 1995. Escobar fled to Panama days after Lara’s murder as the government looked for justice.

Jaime Ramírez

Working alongside Rodrigo Lara in stamping out cartel influence was Colonel Ramírez, Director of the Colombian Drug Enforcement Unit for the National Police of Colombia. In 1984, Ramírez was involved in an operation with the DEA to find the Medellín Cartel’s stash in the jungle, delivering a huge blow to the group. But this made Ramírez a target. In November 1986, while traveling with his family, unknown assassins connected to the Medellín Cartel drove their vehicle alongside Ramirez’s car. After taking out the car that contained Ramírez’s bodyguards, they opened fire. They wounded Ramírez, causing him to crash, before finishing the job. In 1992, Ramírez was posthumously awarded the title of Brigadier General, a position he was meant to have a month after his passing.

Margarito Martínez

As a photojournalist specializing in crime in Tijuana, Mexico, Martínez was a well-known figure in the community. However, he was falsely linked to a Facebook group that openly criticized cartels and unmasked members’ identities. After receiving threats, Martínez was in the process of getting governmental help when, in January 2022, he was fatally shot. Adrián “El Uber” Ramos and José “El Huesos” Ochoa were reportedly paid around $2,500 to assassinate Martínez. In December 2022, the duo were both sentenced to 25 years in jail and ordered to pay $25,000 compensation to Martínez’s family. As of the time of writing, the people who ordered the journalist’s murder haven’t been charged.

Chalino Sánchez

After working with his brother Armando as a “coyote,” an immigrant smuggler, everything changed for Sánchez in 1984 when his brother was murdered. He began creating music, becoming a recognizable talent in Mexico and California. In May 1992, four months after surviving an attack at a gig in Coachella, Sánchez was handed an alleged threat while performing in Culiacán, Mexico. As he left the venue with his family, an armed group pulled over their vehicle and took Sánchez. His body was found the next day, seemingly executed by a cartel. Another musician who was allegedly murdered by the Los Zetas group was Valentín Elizalde in 2006. Only a year later, Sergio Gómez was fatally attacked by an apparent gang.

Jaime Zapata

In February 2011, Zapata and Víctor Ávila, two agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, were traveling from Laredo, Texas, to Mexico City. While driving in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, two speeding vehicles appeared, began opening fire, and rammed the agents’ car off the road. Even though Zapata and Ávila loudly shouted they were US diplomats, the armed men continued shooting, injuring the agents and fleeing. Zapata drove away from the scene before collapsing and passing away. Ávila was treated for his wounds. The Los Zetas cartel was responsible for the attack and eventually the murderers were arrested.

The 2010 San Fernando Massacre

In 2010, as a war between former allies Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel consumed the Mexican city of San Fernando, an injured Ecuadorian teenager called “Luis” approached some Mexican marines. He told them he had just survived a terrible massacre. Luis had been part of a group of immigrants traveling towards the US. who were taken to a warehouse by members of Los Zetas. There the gang executed 72 people, with only 3 lucky individuals surviving. The group apparently did this to steal money, get information, and make sure the immigrants weren’t working with the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas are also believed to have slain two of the investigators into the massacre. Eventually 81 members of the gang were arrested.

Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena

After working for the police, Camarena joined the recently formed US Drug Enforcement Administration in 1973. Eventually, he joined the branch in Guadalajara, Mexico, where his work led to several plantations being seized. In February 1985, Camarena was abducted by corrupt officials. He was believed to have been responsible for the closure of the 2,500-acre site, known as Rancho Búfalo, the year before, leading to retaliation. Camarena’s body was found a month later, showing signs of abuse. The investigation concluded that Guadalajara Cartel founders Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, Rafael Caro Quintero, and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo were responsible, getting a sentence of 40 years each. Several others were sentenced for their participation, too. However, there’ve been allegations the CIA was also involved.

The Monterrey Casino Attack

In August 2011, members of the Los Zetas cartel sought revenge from the Casino Royale in Monterrey, Mexico. The owner hadn’t paid a protection payment so they decided to send a message. The cartel forced their way into the casino, pouring gasoline everywhere as people ran for the emergency exits, only to find the doors locked. Then, Los Zetas set the building on fire and left within 3 minutes of arriving. All of this was captured on surveillance footage. When emergency services arrived, they found the bodies of 52 people inside and many injured. By 2022, only 5 people who were linked to the attack were arrested on unrelated weapon charges.

The 2011 San Fernando Massacre

In March 2011, over several days, public transport buses filled with passengers in San Fernando, Mexico were taken by Los Zetas. It’s speculated the group did this to force people to work with them, or interrogate passengers suspected of involvement with the Gulf Cartel. The kidnapped people were assaulted and many allegedly made to fight each other in gladiator-style fights. Over several weeks, the authorities began finding numerous mass graves. In the end, 193 bodies were discovered. Soon after, 82 people involved with Los Zetas were arrested in connection with the massacre. Sixteen corrupt police officers were imprisoned for aiding the gang. This horrific event led to the cartel’s higher-ups, such as Miguel Treviño Morales, being imprisoned.

Which of these hits shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments below!