Sonia Barragan Perez is the wife of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, the late Mexican drug lord. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but she would most likely be in her late 60s or early 70s today. Since the death of her husband in 1997, Sonia has more or less stayed away from public scrutiny for obvious reasons.
Sonia’s husband, Amado, was a feared and ruthless drug lord who seized control of the Juarez Cartel after assassinating his boss, Rafael Aguilar Guajardo. He became known as El Senor de Los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies) due to his large fleet of private jets, which he used to transport drugs.
He was also involved in money laundering schemes via Colombia to finance the fleet of jets he used in his drug operation. This article, however, focuses on Sonia Barragan Perez, the less-known widow of the drug lord.
Summary of Sonia Barragan Perez’s Bio
- Full name: Sonia Barragan Perez
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: 1950s
- Place of birth: Mexico
- Sonia Barragan Perez’s Age: Late 60s to early 70s
- Ethnicity: Hispanic
- Nationality: Mexican
- Sexual Orientation: Cuban
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Widowed
- Sonia Barragan Perez’s Husband: Amado Carrillo Fuentes (deceased)
- Sonia Barragan Perez’s Children: Julio Cesar Carillo Leyva (son), Luis Fernando Carrillo Navarro (son), Juan Carrillo Leyva (son), Vicente Carrillo Leyva (step-son)
Sonia Barragan Perez Was Born In Mexico
Sonia Barragan Perez was born in Mexico and is a Mexican citizen by birth. Beyond that, not much is known about her birth particulars. Speculations abound that she was just a few years younger than her late husband, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, who was born on December 17, 1956.
If there is any truth to those speculations, it would infer that Sonia Barragan Perez is in her late 60s to early 70s at present. Additionally, very little information is available regarding her birth family members, including her parents and any siblings she might have.
Every available piece of information points to the fact that Sonia spent her formative years in Mexico. However, it remains quite a challenge to decipher exactly where she grew up or what her early years may have been like. Consequently, there are not enough details of her formal educational background to determine how educated she is.
Sonia Barragan Perez Was Married To Amado Carrillo Fuentes Until His Death In 1997
It is common knowledge that Sonia Barragan Perez and married Amado Carrillo remained married until Amado died in 1997. However, the exact date when they tied the knot is currently unknown. Based on that, it is quite a challenge to say how long they were married.
Similarly, only a few close people can give an accurate analysis of how, when, and where they met. They had three children together during their marriage, but the particulars of their birth, including when they were born, appear to have taken a back seat to the illegal activities of Sonia’s late husband.
Sonia Barragan Perez Was A Housewife
Sonia Barragan Perez was a housewife who primarily focused on taking care of the home and children she had with her late husband. It is unclear if she had any other source of income apart from the money she got from Amado.
While there are no clear-cut ways to prove it, several sources indicate that she was aware of what her late husband was into, but stood by his side regardless. We also have no way of knowing how deeply immersed she was in the business.
Sonia Barragan Perez’s Late Husband Was A Notorious Drug Lord
Sonia’s late husband, Amado Carrilo Fuentes, was a notorious Mexican drug lord who ran the activities of the dreaded Juarez Cartel from the time he assumed power in 1992 until his demise in 1997.
Amado Carrillo Fuentes was born on December 17, 1956, in Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico. He hailed from a family with a long history of involvement in the drug trade. His uncle, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, known as Don Neto, was a founding member of the Guadalajara Cartel. Growing up in a drug-trafficking environment, Carrillo Fuentes was exposed to the intricacies of the trade from an early age.
Following the dismantling of the Guadalajara Cartel after the capture of its leader, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, Carrillo Fuentes switched to the Juarez Cartel. After assassinating his boss, Rafael Aguilar Guajardo, he became the boss and the cartel quickly rose to prominence due to his strategic alliances, business acumen, and ruthlessness.
Carrillo Fuentes became notorious for his ability to transport vast amounts of drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border using a fleet of airplanes. This earned him the nickname El Senor de Los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies).
Under Carrillo Fuentes’ leadership, the Juarez Cartel became one of the most powerful and influential drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. He expanded his operations by forging alliances with other cartels, such as the Tijuana Cartel and the Gulf Cartel, to increase his reach and control over drug routes.
Carrillo Fuentes implemented innovative methods to conceal drugs, such as using hollowed-out car parts and even corpses. The Juarez Cartel’s empire extended beyond drug trafficking, with involvement in money laundering, arms smuggling, and corruption.
Several Challenges Led To His Downfall And Death In 1997
Despite his immense power, Carrillo Fuentes faced numerous challenges during his reign that ultimately led to his downfall and death. For one, rival cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, coveted his territories and engaged in violent confrontations. Additionally, pressure from the Mexican and U.S. authorities intensified as Carrillo Fuentes’ empire grew.
In 1997, he decided to undergo extensive plastic surgery to change his appearance and evade capture. However, complications during surgery led to his untimely death. Amado Carrillo Fuentes’ death marked a turning point in the Mexican drug trade. The Juarez Cartel experienced internal power struggles, leading to a decline in its influence.
The void left by his absence paved the way for other drug trafficking organizations to rise, resulting in increased violence and instability in Mexico’s drug trade. Carrillo’s strategic alliances and innovative methods of drug transportation left a lasting impact on the tactics employed by subsequent cartels.
Where is Sonia Barragan Perez Now?
Sonia Barragan Perez, the widow of Amado Carrillo Fuentes, is living outside the public eye for reasons that may have something to do with the kind of life she and her kids led under her late husband. Her decision makes it quite hard to determine what she is up to at present.
Following the demise of her late husband, she was left with a substantial inheritance of about $25 billion, aside from the $10 billion that was seized by the Mexican government. With that kind of money, it is safe to say that Sonia Barragan Perez is living the best life money can afford even if it is out of the view of the media and the general public.
