Top drug lord Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen killed in shootout with Mexican forces

Top drug lord Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen killed in shootout with Mexican forces

2010-11-06 07:38:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Top drug lord Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, one of the leaders of the powerful Gulf Cartel, was killed on Friday afternoon after a six-hour-long gunfight with the Mexican military in the northern border city of Matamoros, the Mexican Navy said.

In the gunfight, four other drug gang members were killed. The Mexican Navy reported two marines killed, while the Mexican Army reported one soldier killed.

Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillen, 48, also known as "Tony Tormenta," is the brother of the former leader of the Gulf Cartel, Osiel Cárdenas Guillen.

Cardenas Guillen was reportedly in charge of planning, overseeing and directing drug trafficking and money gathering activities in Matamoros, Mexico. Cardenas Guillen also controlled the Brownsville-Matamoros corridor on behalf of the Gulf Cartel.

"Tony Tormenta" began his drug trafficking career in the late 1980s. He quickly rose through the ranks of the criminal organization and was given command over the Matamoros Plaza.

Cárdenas-Guillen is also responsible for sending multi-ton shipments of marijuana and cocaine to the United States. He was indicted by a U.S. court in the District of Columbia.

The U.S. had been offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.

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