Sergio Enrique Ruiz-Tlapanco

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Tlapanco.

Sergio Enrique Ruiz Tlapanco
Born	8 October 1972 Mexico
Other names	Z-44, El Tlapa
Employers	Mexican Army (1988–1999) Federal Judicial Police (1997–1999) Los Zetas (suspected)
Criminal charge	Drug trafficking, money laundering, assault
Capture status	Incarcerated

Sergio Enrique Ruiz Tlapanco (born 8 October 1972) is a Mexican suspected drug lord and high-ranking member of Los Zetas, a criminal group based in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Early life and career

Sergio Enrique Ruiz Tlapanco was born on 8 October 1972 in Mexico.[1] He joined the Mexican Army on 6 March 1988. While serving in the military, he was assigned as an officer of the Federal Judicial Police (PJF) from 1997 to 1999. He was based in Coahuila and had a C rank as an agent. On 16 November 1999, he requested his release from the military.[2]

Arrest

He was captured on September 9, 2009.[3] The government of Mexico had listed Ruiz Tlapanco as one of its 37 most-wanted drug lords and offered the equivalent of over $1 million USD for information leading to his capture.[4]

Kingpin Act sanction

On 24 March 2010, the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Ruiz-Tlapanco under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (sometimes referred to simply as the "Kingpin Act"), for his involvement in drug trafficking along with fifty-three other international criminals and ten foreign entities.[5] The act prohibited U.S. citizens and companies from doing any kind of business activity with him, and virtually froze all his assets in the U.S.[6]

See also

• List of Mexico's 37 most-wanted drug lords

References

1. "Additional Designations, Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act". United States Department of the Treasury. March 30, 2010.
2. Hernández Cruz, Daniel (2009). "Detienen a fundador de los Zetas en San Manuel". La Quinta Columna (in Spanish).
3. Blancas, Daniel (9 September 2009). "Emplean tanquetas para detener a Sergio Ruiz, El Tlapa, fundador de Los Zetas y autor de atentado a general en Tabasco". La Crónica de Hoy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
4. Univision. México ofrece millonarias recompensas por 37 líderes del narco. English title: Mexico offers rewards in the millions for 37 drug lords. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
5. "DESIGNATIONS PURSUANT TO THE FOREIGN NARCOTICS KINGPIN DESIGNATION ACT" (PDF). United States Department of the Treasury. 15 May 2014. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
6. "An overview of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act" (PDF). United States Department of the Treasury. 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.