The Beginning

Once upon a time this drug war was not as rampant as it is today. The person to bring this change about was Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, a Mexican Judicial Federal Police agent, who realized that there was a large amount of money available in selling drugs. To start off his drug business, he funded the Guadalajara Cartel in 1980 and consolidated power, becoming the first Mexican to link up with the Colombian cartels to smuggle cocaine. This strategy was significant because originally Colombians had a stronghold on the market, but due to Miguel and his ability to be protected by the Mexican intelligence agency, DFS, the two sides made a partnership. After a bust in 1985, Gallardo decided to split up the business, creating the five major cartels that are still in business today.