Joaquin Salamanca
Vital statistics
Portrayed By	Uncredited stunt performer
Occupation(s)	Juárez Cartel enforcer
Status	Deceased
Episode Count	1
First Appearance	Salud
Last Seen	Salud
Images of Joaquin Salamanca

Joaquin Salamanca was an enforcer for the Juárez Cartel, the grandson of Don "Tio" Hector Salamanca and relative of Tuco and The Cousins.

After the violent deaths of several of his family members, only Joaquin and his retired grandfather "Tio" remained to carry the Salamanca name. Joaquin worked directly for the cartel boss Don Eladio as an enforcer alongside Gaff in Mexico. He was present at Don Eladio's estate when the American meth distributor Gus Fring (with Mike Ehrmantraut and Jesse Pinkman) was invited to celebrate their partnership. While Joaquin was posted elsewhere on the property, Gus succeeded in lethally poisoning Don Eladio, his nine capos, the cartel meth chemist, and the bodyguard Miguel; Gaff was garroted nearby by Mike. As the servants and concubines stuffed their pockets, Joaquin surprised the fleeing Norteños and shot Mike in the gut. Jesse returned fire, shooting rapidly, hitting Joaquin in the leg at first, then fatally in the chest. ("Salud").

Gus, safely back in America a short time later, continued his habitual torment of Joaquin's grandfather Hector Salamanca (in return for Hector's murder of Gus's friend, Max Arciniega). Gus now described the collapse of Tio's former cartel: as Tio sat, mute, Gus triumphantly dangled Don Eladio's extravagant bad eye necklace in front of his eyes and named seven of the nine dead capos (Don Paco, Don Cesar, Don Denaico, Don Fortuno, Don Cisco and Don Escalara). He then described Joaquin's death and introduced him to his grandson's killer, Jesse, the skinny white tweeker who steps aside for old ladies. He concludes with a flourish, stating gravely that the Salamanca name will now die with Hector, and then pauses to loom over his shoulder while he wonders if today is his last. ("Crawl Space").