one of the most powerful, violent, and aggressive trafficking groups in Mexico. The AFO is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of multiton quantities of cocaine and marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine. Benjamin Arellano-Felix was the head of this organization. It operates in Tijuana, Baja California, and parts of the States of Sinaloa, Sonora, Jalisco, and most recently, Tamaulipas (Shaffer, 1990). Benjamin coordinates the activities of the organization through his brothers: Ramon, Eduardo, and Javier. Ramon Arellano-Felix, considered the most violent brother, organized and coordinated security operations for the AFO (Shaffer, 1990). On September 11, 1997, he was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.The Caro-Quintero organization is based in Sonora, Mexico, and focuses on trafficking in cocaine and marijuana. Originally headed by Rafael Caro-Quintero, the organization was formerly part of the infamous Mexican Drug Trafficking Federation (Shaffer, 1990). Rafael has been incarcerated in Mexico since 1985 for his involvement in the murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena (Shaffer, 1990). Since then, the organization has been headed by Rafael's brother, Miguel. To date, four U.S. indictments have been issued against Miguel Caro-Quintero, three in Arizona and one in Colorado. Although Miguel was arrested in 1992, that effort was negated when a Mexican federal judge in Hermosillo dropped all criminal charges and ordered his release from custody (Shaffer, 1990). In June 1999, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that Miguel could be extradited to the United States to face money laundering and marijuana trafficking charges, if he was arrested by Mexican police. Until July 4, 1997, when Amado Carrillo-Fuentes died in Mexico City after undergoing plastic surgery, he was considered the most powerful trafficker in Mexico. The Juarez cartel, formerly known as the Amado Carrillo-Fuen...
