Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén, alias “Tony Tormenta”, one of the top capos of the Gulf cartel, shot and killed along with four of his henchmen

Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén, alias “Tony Tormenta”, one of the top capos of the Gulf cartel, shot and killed along with four of his henchmen in a battle in Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Cardenas had escaped capture this past September when a raid by Marines on a safehouse in Matamoros where he was staying was repulsed by his bodyguards, "Los Escorpiones".

Jose Luis Vergara, a spokesman for the agency, declared that Cardena’s death has dealt a major blow to the structure and organization of the Gulf Cartel organization.

Ezequiel Cardenas was the brother of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the former head of the Gulf cartel and founder of “Los Zetas”, who is now imprisoned in the United States.

Since August the Army and Marines have intensified the search for the leaders of the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. Los Zetas are lead by Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano “El Verdugo” “El Lazca” and Miguel Angel Trevino Morales “Z-40” who is in charge of the Nuevo Laredo trafficking corridor. The Gulf Cartel is lead by Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez “El Coss”.