There is no place in Mexico where drug trafficking doesn’t have a presence. According to the DEA’s recent National Drug Threat Assessment, at least seven cartels are vying for control of the country: the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation, Cartel del Noreste, Nueva Familia Michoacana, La Familia Michoacana, Cárteles Unidos, and Cartel del Golfo.
Which cartels are present in Mexico?
The Sinaloa Cartel is the criminal group with the largest presence in Mexico. According to the DEA assessment, the criminal organization dominates the fentanyl business.
Worldwide, it has a presence in 40 countries, while in Mexico, it extends its tentacles to 31 states. In Jalisco, dominated by the CJNG (National Criminal Justice Commission), it has a limited presence.
The internal war between the Los Chapitos and La Mayiza factions has created power vacuums, which could lead to greater instability in the regions they dominate.
The report indicates that the internal dispute within the Sinaloa organization has been exploited by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has expanded its influence over the illicit drug trade in Mexico.
The CJNG, which has a single-command structure with franchises throughout the country, has allegedly allied itself with the Los Chapitos faction, allowing it to expand its territory and increasing the flow of drugs to the north, territories dominated by Los Menores.
Meanwhile, the Mayos formed ties with the Northeast Cartel, which facilitates the sale and distribution of these drugs using routes controlled by Mayo Zambada’s operators.
Another cartel with a presence in Mexico is the Familia Michoacana. According to the DEA map, the criminal organization is located in Guerrero, Michoacán, Morelos, and the State of Mexico.
The FM dominates the Tierra Caliente region in Mexico.
Currently, the Familia Michoacana is divided into factions such as the Nueva Familia Michoacana and the United Cartels, both of which have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the U.S. Department of State.
The Nueva Familia Michoacana is the most powerful cell. Its activities focus on the trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.
At various times, it formed alliances with the CJNG (CJNG), factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Gulf Cartel to access trafficking routes and entry points into the U.S.
Although the Gulf Cartel has not been a unified criminal group since 2005, its criminal cells continue to operate in Mexico. These are Los Metros and Los Escorpiones. These two factions fight each other for control of trafficking routes and territory, especially the Port of Altamira.
Source: elfinanciero
