| Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 1, 1971 Mexico |
| Alias(es) | El Coss |
| Charge(s) | Drug trafficking, money laundering, assault |
| Status | Fugitive |
| Occupation | Gulf Cartel drug lord |
Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, nicknamed El Coss, is a Mexican drug lord and the leader of the criminal drug trafficking organization known as the Gulf Cartel.[1]
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Costilla was born on August 1, 1971. From 1992 to 1995 he worked as a Matamoros city police officer,[2] where he became familiar with the drug trade.
After Osiel Cárdenas Guillén seized control of the Gulf Cartel in 1995, he selected Costilla as his lieutenant. The Gulf Cartel is responsible for the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the United States annually. After the arrest of the cartel leader Osiel Cardenas, Costilla took control and became partner with Heriberto Lazcano and Hector Manuel Sauceda Gamboa (El Karis). Sauceda was killed in a gun battle with the Federal Police on February 17, 2009,[3] and Heriberto Lazcano formed his own rival cartel, Los Zetas.
Costilla is one of a number of high ranking members of the Gulf Cartel who has been indicted in the United States for drug trafficking activities. Costilla has also been indicted for threatening U.S. law enforcement officials in November 1999. In that incident, FBI and DEA agents in Mexico were forcibly stopped at gunpoint by a group of heavily armed men, allegedly including Costilla and other key members of the Gulf Cartel. Costilla and the other Cartel members were said to have pointed AK-47 rifles at the U.S. Federal agents and threatened to kill them. After a tense standoff, the FBI and DEA agents were allowed to leave.
After the death of Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén in a gunfight with the Mexican Marines on 5 November 2010, Costilla has taken full control of the Gulf Cartel and leads the war against Los Zetas throughout Northeastern and Central Mexico.[4]
Mexico is offering a $30 million pesos (US$2.3 million) bounty.[2] In the United States, he has been charged with 12 counts of drug trafficking and money-laundering and is also wanted for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.[5] The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million USD for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.[1][6]
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