organisation stayed resilient. However, the arrest of chief, Javier Arellano Félix in August 2006 led the cartel to fall greatly. Between 2006 and 2008, El Ingeniero, the son of Norma Isabel Arellano, symbolised a new generation of leadership for the organisation and a fundamental restructuring of the drug network. The Tijuana Cartel Today Excluding Carlos, the Tijuana Cartel has lost almost all of its first-generation, superior leadership members to either death or arrest. Since its peak during the 1990s and early 2000s, the Tijuana Cartel has weakened significantly. The arrests and deaths of Carlos’ family members and constant attacks and conflicts negatively affected the organisation. However, in spite of recent contradictory statements by United States authorities, the organisation currently remains active and alive in Tijuana thought to be powerful enough to charge “piso” or tax for shipping drugs through controlled areas. Currently, the organisation primarily operates on the US-Mexico border, Tijuana in namesake city located on the US-Mexico border which is a desired location for smuggling drugs into Southern California. Presently, Carlos' sisters Enedina Arellano Felix and Alicia Arellano Félix alongside Carlos' nephew Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano lead the Tijuana Cartel. There have been suspicions that the Cartel is forming a truce with former rival the Sinaloa Cartel. However, new reports suggest that the two cartels may be competing again. Although Carlos is presently known to be a licensed surgeon and is unwanted, there are suspicions that he continues to allegedly organise the importation of narcotics into the United States for the Tijuana Cartel. Carlos Arellano’s freedom Between 2000 and 2010, the Tijuana Cartel lost almost all of its first-generation and highest leadership members to either arrest or death. However, there are two Arellano Félix brothers who still remain free; Carlos and his brother Luis Fernando Arellano Félix. Both brothers remain free in Mexico with no criminal charges or indictments and are not wanted by United States law enforcement. Despite Carlos’ alleged involvement in money laundering done through multiple companies in central Mexico for the Tijuana Cartel, he went to the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and is currently working as a licensed surgeon. He had formerly been indicted in the United States with many of his other brothers, however was subsequently released from the 1989 indictment which has led to his current freedom. References 1955 births Living people Tijuana Cartel traffickers Mexican surgeons People from Culiacán