Founder |
 Jose Orlando Henao Montoya (1995's-1998) |
The architect of the Norte del Valle cartel. Jose Orlando ranked as the undisputed leader of the cartel until his voluntary surrender to Columbian authorities to face charges in relation to illicit enrichment and money laundering charges in September 1997. 14 months later Jose Orlando was shot to death in the maximum-security wing of Bogota's Modelo Prison. Prior to his death Henao-Montoya's group was well on its way to supplanting the Medellin and Cali cartels as the most dominate Columbian trafficking organization. As respected for its ability to move huge amounts of cocaine, launder vast sums of illicit cash and enforce territorial boundrys through a capable team of enforcers supplied by a brutal paramilitary organization run by Carlos Castano. |
Board of Directors |
 Jairo Ivan Urdinola Grajales (1998-Present) |
Initially a seperate entity in drug trafficking circles which gradually melted into into the Norte del Valle organization. The Urdinola-Grajales operation eventually handled the money washing aspect of the Norte del Valle operation. Jairo Ivan was the architect of the Urdinola-Grajales operation and brought his expertise into the Norte del Valle fold at the behest of Jose Orlando Henao Montoya. The bond between the two groups was cemented by blood as both were related by marriage.
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 "Don Diego" Leon Henao Montoya Sanchez (1998-Present) |
Recognized as the most powerful of the Norte del Valle leaders, Don Diego is a cousin of Jose Orlando and Archangel Henao Montoya as well as the Urdinola Grajales boys. Diego Leon rated a second tier leader in the original cartel structure but quickly rose to unprecedented heights upon the incarceration of Jose Orlando in September 1997. Diego's power grab coupled with a purposal to enter into negotiations with the DEA led to a split in the Norte del Valle organization pitting Don Diego against Wilbur Varela aka "Don Jairo."
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 "Rasguno" Luis Hernando Gomez Bustamante (1998-Present) |
A top tier Norte del Valle figure known as Rasguno. Bustamante maintained close working relations with the Henao Montoya faction after the 2003 split in the organization errupted into open warfare. Called the Pablo Escobar of his generation before his subsequent arrest in Cuba and deportation to his native Columbia. Bustamante was extradition to the United States in July of 2007.
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 "Don Jairo" Wilbur Alirio Varela (1998-2008) |
Served as surrogate leader upon the surrender of his brother in September 1997. Arcangel began promoting a trusted team of lieutenants comprised of blood relatives. This group "which included the Montoya and Grajales brothers," formed the brain trust of the Norte del Valle cartel upon the death of Jose Orlando in November 1998. Arcangel's arrest in the southern Panamanian city of Torti in January 2004, removed the Norte del Valle's number two man. Arcangel's seizure came shortly after an offer was issued from Diego Leon Montoya which promised the surrender of top cartel leaders in exchange for a guarantee that they would not be extradited to the U.S., to face charges in relation to their illicit enterprise. The deal never materialized and Varela continued to run his business operation by remote control. Authorities later learned that Varela established himself in a tourist cabin in north-western Venezuela but the information was received in the hours following the discovery of the Cartel leaders body.
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 "Chupeta" Juan Carlos Ramirez-Abadia (1986-2007) |
Chupeta was a leading figure in the Norte del Valle operation for 20 years. Ramirez operated from the Cali region, long recognized as the domain of the Orejuela brothers. The Abadia operation dabbled in heroin as well as cocaine which was shipped through Mexico into Los Angeles, San Antonio and parts of Colorado. The Abadia operation was distinct in its reliance on speed boats to land their product in the tradition of the Medellin cartel of the '80s.
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