Everyone knows Pablo Escobar and El Chapo, but these female drug dealers were just as ruthless. Lets explore the most infamous female narcos, from assassins to cartel bosses.
Griselda Blanco
Known as the Cocaine Godmother or the Black Widow, Griselda Blanco was linked to over 200 deaths, including her three husbands. Blanco became a major player in the Miami drug war and evaded arrest for nearly a decade. After her release and deportation in 2004, she was gunned down in 2012.
Sebastiana Cottón Vásquez
Sebastiana Cottón Vásquez, from Guatemala, took over her husband’s drug business and allied with El Chapo. She trafficked 40 tons of cocaine before her capture in 2014. After providing testimony against fellow narcos, she returned to her hometown.
Sandra Ávila Beltrán
Dubbed the Queen of the Pacific, Sandra Ávila Beltrán was born into a family of drug lords. She commanded ships smuggling tons of cocaine and was arrested in 2007. Extradited to the U.S. and released in 2015, she now lives in Guadalajara.
Enedina Arellano Félix
Enedina Arellano Félix, a key figure in the Tijuana Cartel, took over after her brother’s arrest. Known for her business acumen and ruthless leadership, she has successfully evaded authorities.
Melissa Margarita Calderón Ojeda
Melissa Calderon, also known as La China, led the Damaso Cartel. She commanded an army of 300 killers and was linked to over 150 deaths. Captured in 2015, she remains incarcerated.
Digna Asusena Valle
Digna Asusena Valle, known as Doña Digna, led a notorious drug trafficking family. Arrested in 2014, she pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and served a shortened sentence.
María Guadalupe López Esquivel
La Catrina, as she was known, rose quickly in the New Generation Cartel. Leading violent charges against authorities, she was fatally wounded in a shootout in 2020 at the age of 21.
Marixa & Mayra Lemus
The Lemus sisters had strong government connections, with Mayra serving as Mayor of Moyuta. Both were linked to numerous murders. Marixa escaped prison twice before her final apprehension.
Luz Irene Fajardo Campos
La Comadre, Luz Irene Fajardo Campos, led a narcotics organization with ties to the Sinaloa cartel. Arrested in 2017, she received a 22-year prison sentence and a hefty fine.
Joselyn Alejandra Niño
La Flaca, or The Skinny One, was an assassin for the Gulf Cartel. Known for her viral image with a large firearm, she was found dismembered in an ice cooler in 2015.
These women were just as formidable as their male counterparts, leaving a lasting mark on the drug trafficking world.