Sandra Ávila Beltrán - wikipedia Sandra Ávila Beltrán Sandra Avila Beltran ( 1960 - 10 - 16 ) 16 October 1960 ( age 57 ) Baja California, Mexico Other names La Reina del sur ( Queen of the South ) La Reina del Mar ( Queen of the Ocean ) la reina del sur ( Queen of south ) Criminal charge Money laundering and possession of illegal firearms Criminal status Released in 2015 Relatives Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo Rafael Caro Quintero This name uses Spanish naming customs : the first or paternal family name is Ávila and the second or maternal family name is Beltrán. Sandra Ávila Beltrán ( born 11 October 1960 ) is a Mexican drug cartel leader, dubbed `` La Reina del Pacífico '' ( The Queen of the Pacific ) by the media. She was arrested on 28 September 2007, and charged with organized crime and conspiracy to traffic drugs ; Some charges were later dropped but she was still held for possession of illegal weapons and money laundering, pending her extradition to the United States. On 10 August 2012, she was extradited to the United States to answer to criminal charges by the U.S. government. Mexican and U.S. officials consider she was an important link between the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and the Colombia n Norte del Valle Cartel. Contents 1 Biography 2 Arrest 2.1 Extradition and deportation 3 Popularity 3.1 Music 3.2 Literature 3.3 Television 4 References Biography Ávila Beltrán was born in Baja California, Mexico, the daughter of María Luisa Beltrán Félix and Alfonso Ávila Quintero, a family member of Rafael Caro Quintero, the former leader of the Guadalajara Cartel. Family connections have played a major role in her criminal career, and Ávila Beltrán was, in fact, a `` third - generation '' drug trafficker in her family. Officials in Mexico say Ávila Beltrán is the niece of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, the onetime godfather of the Mexican drug trade who is serving a 40 - year sentence for the 1984 murder of Enrique Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) special agent. Her great uncle Juan José Quintero Payán was extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges. On her mother 's side, the Beltráns got involved in heroin smuggling in the 1970s and later diversified into cocaine. DEA officials state that Ávila Beltrán never shrank from employing the violence that comes with the turf and that `` she used the typical intimidation tactics of Mexican organizations. '' She reportedly had affairs with several well - known drug barons in her youth. She was married twice ; both of her husbands were ex-police commanders who became drug traffickers, and both of them were later killed by hired assassins. The police attribute her rise to power in the drug world primarily to her most recent relationship with Juan Diego Espinoza Ramírez, alias The Tiger, who is said to be an important figure in the Colombian Norte del Valle Cartel. Ávila Beltrán lived in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and Hermosillo, Sonora, until the police found more than 9 tons of cocaine on a ship in the Pacific port of Manzanillo, Colima, in 2001 and tracked the shipment to her and her lover Espinoza Ramírez. Arrest Despite her high - profile lifestyle, Beltrán long avoided leaving police any evidence. In 2002, however, she unexpectedly contacted authorities for help when her teenage son was kidnapped for a US $5 million ransom. She eventually got her son back, but not without raising suspicions that launched an investigation. It took more than four years and 30 federal agents to close in and finally arrest Ávila. She was arrested, along with Espinoza Ramírez, on 28 September 2007, in Mexico City. She was charged with and convicted of laundering money for billions of dollars ' worth of drugs smuggled from Colombia to Mexico. In a tape of her police interrogation, she describes herself as a housewife who earns a little money on the side `` selling clothes and renting houses. '' When asked why she had been arrested, she responded, `` Because of an extradition order to the United States. '' Her life behind bars at the Santa Martha Acatitla women 's prison in Mexico City has apparently not been to her liking as she filed a complaint with a Mexico City human rights commission, saying her cell had insects, which she referred to as noxious fauna. She also said the ban on bringing in food from restaurants violated her human rights. In March 2009, journalist Anderson Cooper interviewed Sandra Ávila for the television news magazine 60 Minutes. In January 2011 an investigation was launched after a doctor was allowed to enter the prison to give Beltrán a Botox injection treatment, a therapy that is not authorised for inmates. The prison 's director and hospital chief were relieved of their duties. All of the drug charges were dropped in early 2011.As of February 2015 Sandra is free according to CNN `` Now, after more than seven years behind bars, the woman known as `` The Queen of the Pacific '' is free. Extradition and deportation In June 2012 several Mexican judges ruled out major obstacles to extradite Ávila Beltrán to the United States on cocaine trafficking charges that date back to 2001. Originally, previous request seeking to extradite Ávila Beltrán been denied twice by a panel and then by a judge, but Ávila Beltrán had to answer to the charges by the United States for several cocaine shipments seized in Chicago. On 10 August 2012, Ávila Beltrán was extradited to the United States and flown to Florida to face cocaine possession and trafficking charges. Ávila denied the charges and as part of the plea deal, Avila said she provided `` financial assistance for travel, lodging and other expenses '' to Espinosa from 2002 to 2004. Ávila Beltrán was then deported back to Mexico, where she was immediately arrested on money - laundering charges on 20 August 2013, and was sentenced to five more years in prison and a fine for money laundering. She was imprisoned at the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 4 federal prison in Tepic, Nayarit. She was released in 2015 and now lives in the city of Guadalajara. Since her arrest in 2007, she spent a total of seven years in prison, including two years in isolation. Popularity Music Los Tucanes de Tijuana wrote a folk ballad that pays homage to Sandra Ávila as `` a top lady who is a key part of the business. '' Literature She also published a book, The Queen of the Pacific : Time to Talk, based on a series of prison interviews she gave to Mexican journalist Julio Scherer. Television In 2011, Telemundo launched `` La Reina del Sur '' which showed Avila 's life in a telenovela. Shortly after USA Network aired the english verision `` Queen of the South '' on June 23, 2016. References ^ Jump up to : `` Accused female drug lord ordered held over for trial in Mexico ''. Associated Press. 2007 - 10 - 05. Retrieved 26 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Underworld Queenpin ''. Newsweek. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2011. Jump up ^ `` ' La reina del Pacífico ', una historia salpicada de fantasía y realidad '' ( in Spanish ). Terra Networks. 2007 - 10 - 06. Retrieved 23 October 2007. Jump up ^ SRE no descarta entregar a Avila ( in Spanish ) 10 August 2011 Jump up ^ `` El Universal No procede extradición de La Reina del Pacífico ''. www.eluniversal.com.mx. México : El Universal, Compania Periodéstica Nacional. Jump up ^ `` El nombre de una reina inspirado en la literatura ''. CNNMéxico ( in Spanish ). 15 May 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` La Reina del Pacífico, tercera generación de una familia de narcos ''. El Universal. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2012. ^ Jump up to : Tuckman, Jo ( 6 October 2007 ). `` Queen of the Pacific has Mexico hooked as she faces drug charges ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 October 2007. Jump up ^ `` ' Queen of the Pacific ' drug smuggler arrested ''. MSNBC News. Associated Press. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2011. Jump up ^ `` Big - time female drug suspect seizes Mexico 's imagination ''. Associated Press. 2007 - 10 - 05. Retrieved 7 October 2007. Jump up ^ `` Mexico 's `` Queen Of The Pacific '' ``. CBS News. 2009 - 03 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Glamorous Gangster : Alleged Drug Lord Captured ''. ABC News. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2010. Jump up ^ McKinley Jr, James C. ( 2007 - 10 - 12 ). `` In Mexico, a Fugitive 's Arrest Captivates the Cameras ''. The New York Times. ^ Jump up to : `` Arrested ' Drug Queen ' enthralls Mexico ''. USA Today. Associated Press. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Mexico 's `` Queen Of The Pacific '' ``. Jump up ^ `` ' La Reina del Pacífico ' tendrá que declarar por un tratamiento de botox ''. CNNMéxico ( in Spanish ). 2 February 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` Mexico jail inmate in Botox row ''. 2 February 2011 -- via www.bbc.co.uk. Jump up ^ https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/08/americas/mexico-drug-queen-sandra-avila-released/index.html Jump up ^ Looft, Christopher ( 8 June 2012 ). `` Mexico Judges To Allow ' Queen of the Pacific ' Extradition ''. InSight Crime. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Jump up ^ `` Mexican judges agree to extradite alleged drug queen to US ''. Fox News. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Jump up ^ BBC News ( 10 August 2012 ). `` Top Mexican ' drug queen ' Sandra Avila extradited to the US ''. BBC News. Retrieved 10 August 2012. ^ Jump up to : Shoichet, Catherine E. ( 9 February 2015 ). `` Mexico 's ' Queen of the Pacific ' released from prison ''. CNN News. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 06. Jump up ^ Gomez Licon, Adriana ( 20 August 2013 ). `` Sandra Avila Beltran, ' Queen Of The Pacific ' Drug Trafficker, Returns To Mexico From U.S. '' The Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Sandra Ávila Beltrán ingresó a penal de Tepic, Nayarit ''. Univision ( in Spanish ). 20 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013. Jump up ^ Sandra Ávila Beltran, Mexico 's former ' Queen of the Pacific ', speaks out -- video. Jonathan Franklin, Victor Gutiérrez and Chris Whitworth. The Guardian. 16 May 2016. Jump up ^ Soborno de 100 millones de dólares a un presidente mexicano : Reina del Pacífico. 24 May 2016. Aristegui Noticias ( in Spanish ). Jump up ^ `` Book details life of alleged Mexican drug queen ''. Daily News. New York. 2008 - 09 - 04. Jump up ^ https://wearemitu.com/mitu-world/meet-the-narco-queen-who-inspired-not-one-but-two-tv-series/ Mexican Drug War ( 2006 -- present ) Names in italics represent dead or arrested individuals. Timeline Federal forces Mexican Army Mexican Air Force Mexican Navy Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales ( formerly GAFE ) ( special forces ) Policía Federal Ministerial SEIDO ( organized crime investigation ) Federal Police Beltrán - Leyva Cartel disbanded 2010 Armed wings Los Mazatlecos South Pacific Cartel Founders Arturo Beltrán Leyva Alfredo Beltrán Leyva Carlos Beltrán Leyva Edgar Valdez Villarreal Sergio Villarreal Barragán Héctor Beltrán Leyva Leaders Héctor Beltrán Leyva Fausto Isidro Meza Flores La Familia Cartel Disbanded 2011 Founders Nazario Moreno González Carlos Rosales Mendoza Arnoldo Rueda Medina Dionisio Loya Plancarte Rafael Cedeño Hernández Alberto Espinoza Barrón Enrique Plancarte Solís José de Jesús Méndez Vargas Servando Gómez Martínez Gulf Cartel Factions Los Metros Los Rojos Founders Juan Nepomuceno Guerra Juan García Ábrego Leaders Óscar Malherbe de León Osiel Cárdenas Guillén Antonio Cárdenas Guillén Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez Mario Ramírez Treviño Homero Cárdenas Guillén Juárez Cartel Armed wings La Línea Founders Rafael Aguilar Guajardo Pablo Acosta Villarreal Amado Carrillo Fuentes Leaders Vicente Carrillo Fuentes Juan Pablo Ledezma Knights Templar Cartel Armed wings La Resistencia Founders Enrique Plancarte Solís Servando Gómez Martínez Leaders Enrique Plancarte Solís Servando Gómez Martínez Sinaloa Cartel Armed wings Gente Nueva Jalisco New Generation Cartel Los Ántrax Artistas Asesinos Founders Héctor Luis Palma Salazar Adrián Gómez González Joaquín Guzmán Loera Ismael Zambada García Leaders Joaquín Guzmán Loera Ismael Zambada García Juan José Esparragoza Moreno Ignacio Coronel Villarreal Tijuana Cartel Founders Ramón Arellano Félix Benjamín Arellano Félix Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix Carlos Arellano Félix Eduardo Arellano Félix Francisco Javier Arellano Félix Leaders Enedina Arellano Félix Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano Edgardo Leyva Escandón Los Zetas Founders Arturo Guzmán Decena Jaime González Durán Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar Heriberto Lazcano Galindo Mellado Cruz Leaders Heriberto Lazcano Miguel Treviño Morales Omar Treviño Morales Jalisco New Generation Cartel Founders Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes Abigael González Valencia Leaders Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes Jorge Luis Mendoza Cárdenas Rubén Oseguera González Abigael González Valencia Antonio Oseguera Cervantes Elvis González Valencia Julio Alberto Castillo Rodríguez Gerardo González Valencia José González Valencia Other cartels and drug lords Corrupt officials Other cartels Guadalajara Sonora Colima Oaxaca Milenio Los Negros Independent Acapulco Early drug lords Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo Rafael Caro Quintero Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo Héctor Luis Palma Salazar Jesús Amezcua Contreras Pedro Avilés Pérez Juan Nepomuceno Guerra Juan García Ábrego Corrupt officials Miguel Nazar Haro José de Jesús Gutiérrez Rebollo Arturo Durazo Moreno Noé Ramírez Mandujano Raúl Salinas de Gortari Julio César Godoy Toscano Tomás Yarrington Projects Operations Projects Coronado Delirium Gunrunner Shadowfire Southern Tempest Wildfire Operations Baja California Bishop Black Swan Blue Storm Chihuahua Community Shield Coyote Diablo Express Escorpión Fast and Furious Jump Start Kruz Control Lince Norte Michoacán Nuevo León - Tamaulipas Phalanx Quintana Roo Sinaloa Solare Terminus Wide Receiver Xcellerator Massacres Deaths Massacres San Fernando 2010 Villas de Salvárcar 2010 San Fernando 2011 Durango 2011 Monterrey casino attack 2011 Apodaca prison riot Nuevo Laredo 2012 Cadereyta Jiménez Iguala 2014 Deaths Politicians killed Journalists and media workers killed Enrique Camarena ( DEA agent ) Rodolfo Torre Cantú ( physician / politician ) Édgar Eusebio Millán Gómez ( police commander ) Jaime Jorge Zapata ( US agent ) Books Other topics Books Cartel : The Coming Invasion of Mexico 's Drug Wars El Narco : Inside Mexico 's Criminal Insurgency The Fight to Save Juárez Other topics Allegations of CIA drug trafficking Blog del Narco Juárez house of death Most - wanted Mexican drug lords Piracy on Falcon Lake War on Drugs Narco - submarine Narco tank Manhunt of Joaquín `` El Chapo '' Guzmán ( 2001 -- 2014 ) 2015 Amado checkpoint protest 2018 Chimney Canyon shootout GND : 140877363 ISNI : 0000 0000 7737 1214 LCCN : no2009027215 SUDOC : 171154762 VIAF : 78988846 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= Sandra_Ávila_Beltrán&oldid = 853936174 '' Categories : People from Baja California Mexican drug traffickers Mexican money launderers People of the Mexican Drug War Female organized crime figures Mexican prisoners and detainees Sinaloa Cartel traffickers 1960 births Living people People extradited from Mexico to the United States Hidden categories : CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2018 Use dmy dates from February 2014 Pages to import images to Wikidata Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2016 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Scots Edit links This page was last edited on 7 August 2018, at 22 : 16 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is la reina del sur based on
Answer: Sandra Avila Beltran