Are Charming, But Ruthless Female Members Really Taking Over Mexico's Drug Cartels? Alain Stephens - Texas Standard
go to original April 14, 2017

Claudia Ochoa Felix is sometimes called the Kim Kardashian of Mexican drug trafficking. She denies any role in illegal activities. (Claudia8Felixx/Twitter)

The names of some of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords are well-known: Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Rafael Caro Quintero. Besides their profession and location, they have one other thing in common – they are all men. But those following the evolution of cartels in the country are noticing a demographic shift.

One headline from the Houston Chronicle summarizes it: “Ruthless, but charming female members are taking over Mexico’s drug cartels”.



Nathan Jones is professor at Sam Houston State University and author of the book “Mexico’s Illicit Drug Networks and the State Reaction“.

The women’s rise to power within the cartel world has been sensationalized, Jones says. Cartel women have been posting photos to social media – pictures showing them scantily clad and holding what appear to be automatic rifles or posing with chained-up tigers.

But some of the level of female involvement in drug cartels is based on rumors, Jones says.

For example, actress Claudia Ochoa Felix, often referred to as the Kim Kardashian of Mexican drug trafficking, denies any involvement in cartel life. She’s allegedly the head of “Los Ántrax,” the assassin branch of the Sinaloa Cartel.

“In some ways I think this is the media taking an opportunity to sell copy because they know that sex sells,” Jones says.

But in other cases, it’s something else, Jones says.

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