In 1997, Juarez Cartel leader Amado Carrillo Fuentes died while undergoing plastic surgery to change his appearance and avoid capture. I have read and seen suggestions that his death was faked in order to end the pursuit of him. Is there any actual evidence of this?

by WildVariety
djobdaemon

There seems to be a pattern that repeats itself, where each death of an iconic person is considered doubtful or impossible or even related to a conspiracy (I think in particular of the deaths of Elvis and 2pac). Although it is stimulating for the imagination or to perpetuate a kind of legend associated with the character. In this case, there is no evidence suggesting that Amada Carrillo Fuentes is alive.

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Unfortunately, most of the state's archives are not yet declassified. I checked :

  • The FRUS- Clinton administration. - Nothing.
  • National Archives - Nothing.
  • FBI records - Nothing.
  • Wilson center - Nothing.
  • Mexican Archives - Nothing.
  • National security archives - There are some documents mentioning Amado here, but related to testimony in a corruption case (see Document 3).
  • Collection: Mexico-United States Counternarcotics Policy, 1969-2013 - There it becomes interesting. as there are newspaper articles. I'll sort them below.
  • AFP - a 1 minute 53 seconds long video where we can see the body in the casket.

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As I said, we have although interesting medias sources with US officials interview that confirmed the death of Amado.

  • Washington Post - An complete article where the head of the DEA confirmed the death of Amado Carrillo Fuentes after confirmation by a DEA team.
  • Noroeste - A mexican newspaper with pictures. Same conclusion. But this one brings the hypothesis that it was a "murder". Apparently the surgeons gave him Dormicum. A powerful benzodiazepine still in use today to sedate patients. Amado had liver problems due to an excessive alcoholic beverage consumption. Add to this that it was and heavy and complicated operation in order to change his facial structure - 8 hours long. ADN test confirmed the identity of the body.
  • NYT - a small cut from the AFP. Nothing very deep here.
  • The Guardian - 2 articles on this topic.
    • One from the 12th of july with pictures. This one contest the hypothesis of the murder. It appears that the hearth just gave out. But confirm the DNA test results.
    • The second from the 7th of November 1997. This article is very interesting. It relates the death of the three doctors who were operating Amado. They were tortured and killed. Maybe a vengeance. But the most interesting part is that the article tell us that there is indeed a rumor that Amado faked his own death, and he's been seen collaborating with the DEA in Chile. Both Mexican and US refute. For the journalist, there is so much distrust between the 2 countries that keeping this a secret is impossible. I did not find the original article (he's not quoted and identified).

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To conclude, yes there are doubts around his death. But with the evidences with have access to. It's more likely that he's dead.