For years, the struggle for control of the border had turned the once-strong Tijuana and Juarez cartels into fractured remnants of their former selves. The war between them had bled their resources, torn their alliances apart, and cost them the support of the very people they once controlled. Innocent civilians had become mere collateral damage, caught in the crossfire of a never-ending battle for power and money.
The Tijuana Cartel, led by the Arellano Félix brothers, and the Juarez Cartel, with Amado Carrillo Fuentes at the helm, were no longer the unstoppable forces they once were. Both had drawn the ire of not only rival cartels but also the Mexican government and U.S. authorities, who were growing more aggressive in their pursuit of drug kingpins. With every passing day, their hold on the region slipped further. They had made too many enemies, and now their time was running out.
Meanwhile, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, two of the most calculating and patient men in the drug world, saw this as the opening they had been waiting for. The Sinaloa Cartel, while growing stronger in the shadows, had remained out of the limelight for years. But now, with the Tijuana and Juarez Cartels on the brink of collapse, Guzmán and Zambada knew it was their time to strike.
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The year was 1989, and the simmering tension between the Tijuana Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel was reaching a boiling point. "El Chapo" Guzmán had grown tired of the constant provocations from Ramón Arellano Félix and his violent, unpredictable ways. So, in a move to assert his dominance and quiet the growing war between them, Guzmán sent one of his most trusted men, Armando López, known by his alias El Rayo, to Tijuana to speak with the Arellano Félix brothers and resolve the conflict.
Armando was a calm, calculating man, a stark contrast to the hot-headed Arellano Félix. He was trusted by Guzmán because of his loyalty and ability to diffuse tensions. He knew the risks of traveling into Tijuana, a territory controlled by the Arellano Félix brothers, but he had been tasked with this mission, and he would see it through.
As Armando stepped into Tijuana, the streets were buzzing with tension. The air was thick with the knowledge that a fragile peace was hanging by a thread. He was prepared for anything, but what happened next shook him to his core.
Before he even had a chance to meet face-to-face with the Arellano Félix brothers, the unthinkable happened. Ramón, ever the violent enforcer, ordered a hit on El Rayo. No one knew exactly why—whether it was an insult from Guzmán's people or simply Ramón's erratic temper—but Armando was ambushed in broad daylight by Ramón's men.
In a narrow alley just a few blocks from the Tijuana Cartel's headquarters, Armando fought valiantly, but the odds were against him. As the bullets rained down, his last thoughts were of his family and the mission he'd failed to complete.
His lifeless body was left in a shallow grave just outside the city, and the message was clear—anyone daring to cross the Arellano Félix brothers would meet the same fate. The Tijuana Cartel immediately ordered a hit on the remaining López family members, ensuring that no one would ever seek revenge for Armando's death.
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Two years later, the violence between the two cartels continued to escalate. Ramón, still reeling from the loss of his men and the growing resentment from the Sinaloa Cartel, made the fatal mistake of killing another key associate of Guzmán's: Rigoberto Campos Salcido, also known as El Rigo. This wasn't just a hit—it was a declaration of war. The tension reached new heights, and the cartels engaged in open battles across the border.
The Sinaloa Cartel retaliated in the only way they knew how—with violence. "El Güero" Palma, one of Guzmán's closest confidants, ordered the killing of several of the Arellano Félix men at the Christine discothèque in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. It was a bloodbath.
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The night of the attack was chaotic. The lights of the discothèque flickered as the gunmen stormed in, firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Ramón and Francisco Javier Arellano Félix were the prime targets, but by the grace of luck, they managed to escape unscathed. The gunfire continued as their men were gunned down, sending shockwaves through the Tijuana Cartel.
Ramón, seething with anger, vowed vengeance. "We will make them pay, Francisco. This isn't over." His voice was cold, laced with fury.
But things were about to get much worse.
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September 1992—the Guadalajara International Airport Incident
On that fateful day, gunmen affiliated with the Tijuana Cartel attempted an assassination on El Chapo Guzmán. They believed they had him cornered, and a well-placed shot could finally rid them of their most dangerous rival. The plan was flawless, but things went terribly wrong.
The gunmen opened fire on a luxurious vehicle they believed contained Guzmán. The car windows shattered, and the bullets ripped through the air. The gunmen waited, poised for victory—but their aim had been off. Inside the car wasn't Guzmán, but Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, a Roman Catholic leader, who was tragically killed in the crossfire. Six other innocent civilians perished that day, too.
The assassination attempt had been botched, but the aftermath would prove catastrophic. As the dust settled and the gunmen fled the scene, El Chapo was already gone, escaping into the chaos by hailing a taxi. But the ramifications of this failed attempt would echo across Mexico.
News of Cardinal Posadas Ocampo's death spread quickly, and the consequences were immediate. Guzmán was enraged, but also cautious—he knew this would draw unwanted attention. But the Tijuana Cartel had made a grave mistake.
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On December 4, 1993, Francisco Rafael Arrellano Félix was finally arrested. The authorities, emboldened by the failed assassination and the mounting pressure, had found a way to bring him down. In the days leading up to his arrest, Francisco had been tangled in numerous legal battles and charges related to the murder of Cardinal Posadas Ocampo. With his capture, the grip of the Tijuana Cartel began to weaken.
But this was just the beginning. The downfall of Francisco Rafael set off a chain reaction.
The remaining Arellano Félix brothers, Ramón and Benjamín (who had recently stepped into a more prominent role in the cartel), were now vulnerable. "They'll come for us, Ramón. They won't stop until we're all gone," Benjamín warned his brother.
But Ramón was unrelenting, and despite the mounting pressure, he was determined to continue the fight, vowing to reclaim the power and control his family once had.
In the shadows, Guzmán and Zambada watched with keen interest as their rivals weakened. It was only a matter of time before they made their next move.