In the narrative of organized crime in Mexico, some organizations, although less prominent than giants like the Sinaloa Cartel or Los Zetas, have left a profound mark. The Colima Cartel—founded in the late 1980s by the Amezcua Contreras brothers—is one of those groups that, despite operating in the shadows, had a significant impact on the evolution of drug trafficking in the country. Thus, its specialization in the production and distribution of methamphetamines placed it in a key position within the synthetic drug market in the United States.
The First Steps: The Rise of the Amezcua Contreras
The Colima Cartel was founded in 1988 by brothers Jesús, Luis, and Adán Amezcua Contreras, who established their base of operations in the small but strategic state of Colima. Thanks to its location near the ports of Manzanillo and Veracruz, the state became a key point for cocaine trafficking and, later, methamphetamines.
In its early years, the organization focused on cocaine transportation, but soon began to diversify its operations by becoming involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamines—a business that was gaining ground in the 1990s in the country.
The methamphetamine boom was due to the fact that it was a synthetic drug that was much cheaper and easier to produce than cocaine. This offered the cartel a golden opportunity, and Mexico, with its access to precursor chemicals like ephedrine, was the ideal location to create clandestine laboratories to supply the US market.
In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) noted that the Amezcuas had learned about this “business” and its criminal structure by taking advantage of their ties to Colombian drug traffickers:
“They also learned from the mistakes made by other organizations, specifically avoiding violent confrontations for control of territory and markets,” the DEA stated in a 1998 report.
Through these laboratories in places like Jalisco, Colima, and Baja California, they not only produced enormous quantities of methamphetamine, but also managed to establish distribution networks that directly connected Mexico with California, which was one of the main destinations in the United States.
The Methamphetamine Market: Dominance and Expansion at the End of the 20th Century
By the middle of the last part of the 20th century, the Colima Cartel had consolidated its power in methamphetamine trafficking. The organization was characterized by its ability to produce the “high-purity” narcotic, which made it even more attractive to drug lords and American consumers alike. Their success was largely due to their ability to maintain a low profile, which allowed them to operate without much attention for a time.
Relationships with other groups—such as the Sinaloa Cartel—allowed the Amezcua Contreras to access new trafficking routes and strengthen their presence in the synthetic drug market. As methamphetamine trafficking grew, the criminal brotherhood further diversified its operations, consolidating its drug trafficking empire at the level of leaders such as Rafael Caro Quintero, Amado and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, and Benjamín Arellano Félix.
The Fall: Military Strikes Key Blows to the Organization
The strength gained by the Colima Cartel was not enough to prevent its downfall at that time. The first major defeat came in 1997 when Adán Amezcua Contreras was arrested on the Las Guásimas-Colima highway, accused of weapons possession after carrying a .38 caliber pistol. Although this arrest represented a victory for the authorities, the group still maintained strength within its ranks.
In 1998, brothers Luis and Jesús Amezcua Contreras were also apprehended in Guadalajara by agents of the now-defunct Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Health (FEADS), but the judicial process was complex. The evidence against them was not strong enough to convict them immediately, allowing the organization to regroup under new leaders such as Jaime Arturo Ladino Ávila, nicknamed “El Ojón,” who took the reins until his capture in 2000.
The Failed Extradition: A Legal Maze for U.S. Authorities
One of the most controversial chapters in the history of the Colima Cartel was the failed extradition of Jesús Amezcua Contreras to the United States in 2002. Despite strong drug trafficking accusations and growing international pressure as they were considered “priority targets” of the George W. Bush administration, a Mexican court blocked the extradition due to legislation that prevents the surrender of criminals who could face the death penalty or life imprisonment in the requesting country.
Although the Colima Cartel lost much of its power in the early years of the 21st century, its legacy remains in the drug trafficking structures. The methamphetamine production and distribution networks they established did not disappear with their fall; in fact, their influence can be traced in the organizations that emerged in the region after their decline.
Source: infobae
