How Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo Became A Notorious Drug Lord

The fictional portrayal of drug lords often paints them as almost unreal figures born from a world different from the rest. But like most stories, the reality is much more complex. 

As one of the founding members of Mexico's Guadalajara Cartel, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo spent years working with Colombian cartels to capitalize on the burgeoning cocaine trade that saw the drug circulate across the United States for years. His eventual arrest and imprisonment put an end to his work, but his portrayal in two seasons of Narcos: Mexico has kept the flame of curiosity burning onto the life of the infamous "Godfather." 

Before the ruthless trafficker was put behind bars for the torture and murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, which he denies involvement in, Gallardo had humble beginnings. The eventual drug lord was born at a ranch in the northwestern Mexico state of Sinaloa. According to CGIAR, the state is located in the country's vast farming system that envelopes portions of its northern and central regions. Per All That's Interesting, Gallardo's path to the world of drug trafficking began with a childhood of poverty. Writing in his diary, he described a life of stagnant destitution that offered little chance to succeed — a feeling that the publication said pervaded many Mexican nationals.