Soldier of Fortune Magazine The Journal of Professional Adventurers
by “Sol Prendido”
One of the most influential capos in Mexico’s history met a tragic end – and so did his doctors, according to authorities.
One of the most powerful drug lords in Mexico was Amado Carrillo Fuentes, who was born in Navolato, Sinaloa, in 1956. El Señor de los Cielos (Lord of the Skies) worked his way up in the drug business. His influence was such that even soap opera series have been dedicated to him. His death in 1997 was not the only news that impacted the national and international media. The fate of the plastic surgeons who were in a procedure to transform his face was terrible.
Authorities discovered a terrible finding on the road
It was on a Sunday in November 1997, on the Mexico-Acapulco highway that the authorities found three drums. A foul odor emanated from the containers, even though they were sealed.
The feds immediately opened one of the containers, and discovered the remains of a man.
The drums were taken to the Forensic Medical Service in Iguala, where they extracted two more bodies, corresponding to other men.
It was that same day that the authorities released the identities of the people who were in the drums. They were Jaime Godoy, an otorhinolaryngologist; and two plastic surgeons, Carlos Avila and Ricardo Reyes. One of the surgeons, Reyes, was Colombian.
Two more doctors also died, while one more was missing.
Amado was being followed
All of them participated in the plastic surgery performed on Amado Carrillo on July 3, 1997, months before the discovery. It was a cosmetic procedure to change his face, in addition to liposuction. This was so that he could not be identified by Mexican authorities and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to authorities, something went wrong during the operation. After eight hours in the operating room, Amado Carrillo suffered a cardiac arrest. When the autopsy was performed, it was revealed that he was given hypnotic medication mixed with anesthesia, which would have caused a respiratory arrest. He then died of cardiac arrest.
The surgery was performed at Santa Monica Hospital, in Polanco, Mexico City. Amado Carrillo identified himself as Antonio Flores Montes to undergo surgery with the prestigious doctor Ricardo Reyes. Everyone in the hospital knew what this matter was all about.
The authorities announced Amado’s death, and the DEA backed up the information.
Days later, photographs were released showing Amado’s body in a coffin, with a different face.
Amado Carrillo amassed a fortune of at least US$25 billion. His fleet of aircraft, which included Boeings, exceeds 60.
His death while under the knife did not go unanswered. Someone blamed the doctors, and made sure they paid the price. Thus, the surgeons who operated on Amado died in such a horrible way, while another one disappeared.
A version of this article first appeared in Borderland Beat.
