Vicente Carrillo Leyva, alias “El Ingeniero,” was a top leader of the Juarez Cartel. He was captured in 2009 by Mexican authorities. He left prison in 2018.

History

Vicente Carrillo Leyva is the nephew of Vicente Carrillo Fuentes and the son of deceased drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes, alias “El Señor de los Cielos.” He worked closely with his uncle, Vicente, after his father died during plastic surgery.

El Ingeniero Factbox

DOB: July 19, 1976

Group: Juarez Cartel

Criminal Activities: Drug trafficking and money laundering

Status: Captured in April 2009

Area of Operation: Ciudad Juarez in Mexico’s Chihuahua state

Vicente is also part of a group that has been referred to as “narco juniors” — the new generation of drug traffickers who are inheriting their parents’ criminal networks. Like other narco juniors, Vicente studied in expensive private schools and abroad, in his case in Spain and Switzerland.

He was listed as one of the country’s most wanted figures. As a result, the federal government even put a $2 million reward on him. Mexican authorities captured Carillo Leyva in 2009 in Mexico City under a false name. Nine years later, he was released in June 2018 from the Occidente prison in Jalisco.

Since then, El Ingeniero has allegedly falsified documents and bribed authorities. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Criminal Activities

Vicente was involved in the Juarez Cartel’s drug trafficking operations. When he was arrested in 2009, Vicente was accused of weapons violations and money laundering.

Geography

The Juarez Cartel is based in Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua state, near the US-Mexico border, a strategic drug trafficking corridor.

Allies and Enemies

The Juarez Cartel was engaged in a bloody battle against the Sinaloa Cartel for control of Ciudad Juarez, from which the Sinaloa Cartel emerged as the apparent victor.

Prospects

Vicente’s arrest in April 2009 hurt his and his uncle’s operations, especially while the Juarez Cartel was battling the Sinaloa Cartel. His uncle was captured in October 2014 and according to some reports his younger brothers Julio Cesar and Juan Carrillo Leyva are now in control of the cartel. 

Following his release from prison it is unknown to what extent his is involved in criminal activity.