Juan Nepomuceno Guerra CĂĄrdenas (July 18, 1915 â July 12, 2001) was a Mexican crime lord, bootlegger, businessman and smuggler who founded the Gulf Cartel, a drug trafficking organization.
He is often considered the "godfather" of U.S-Mexico border cartels.He began his criminal career in the 1930s by smuggling alcohol from Mexico during the Prohibition in the United States.
He later diversified to other cross-border smuggling activities.
He is the uncle of Juan GarcĂa Ăbrego, once Mexico's most-wanted man.