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Mexico

Mexico is home to some of the hemisphere’s largest, most sophisticated and violent organized criminal groups. These organizations have drawn from Mexico’s long history of smuggling and its close proximity to the United States, the world’s largest economy, to grow into a regional threat.

Latest News

Caborca Cartel Resists Chapitos in Battle for Sonora, Mexico

NEWS / 28 MAR 2023

The Chapitos and the Caborca Cartel are warring over fentanyl and methamphetamine drug routes in Sonora, Mexico.

‘Mula’: The Bridge Between MS13 and Mexican Mafia in Tijuana, Mexico

NEWS / 23 MAR 2023

Nelson Alexander Flores Pacheco, alias "Mula", was the liaison between the Mexican Mafia and the MS13 in Tijuana, Mexico.

What Mexico’s Posture on Fentanyl Says About US Relations

NEWS / 21 MAR 2023

The complex history of the "drug war" in Mexico is hindering its collaboration with the US on the synthetic opioid, fentanyl.

Mexico Profile

Criminal Actors

Armed Groups

Mexico's criminal landscape has morphed in recent years from one dominated by a handful of powerful cartels into a fragmented web of nearly 200 criminal groups defined by fragile and fast-changing alliances. While the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) still dominate the scene, other upstart, hyperviolent groups have carved out a place for themselves through oil theft and other predatory crimes like extortion and kidnapping.

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Personalities

Genaro García Luna

ELITES AND CRIME / JANUARY 18, 2023

The US trial of Genaro García Luna, the architect of Mexico's war on drugs, will seek to prove whether he was helping the Sinaloa Cartel.

Chapitos

EL CHAPO / JANUARY 9, 2022

The Chapitos are sons of former Sinaloa Cartel leader, Joaquín Guzmán, alias “El Chapo,” now fighting to control the cartel.

José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, alias 'El Marro'

MEXICO PERSONALITIES / AUGUST 3, 2020

José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, alias “El Marro,” is the former leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL).

Dámaso López Núñez, alias 'Licenciado'

MEXICO / 2018-07-09

Dámaso López Núñez, alias "Licenciado, prominent in the Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the United States in 2018.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias 'El Mencho'

EL MENCHO / AUGUST 7, 2022

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," has propelled the Jalisco Cartel’s growth to become a fierce and powerful cartel.

Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, alias 'Chapo Isidro'

BELTRAN LEYVA ORG / 2016-11-17

Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, alias "Chapo" leads the Meza Flores, though little is known of his current criminal activities.

Mario Ramirez Treviño, alias 'X20'

GULF CARTEL / 2016-11-17

Mario Ramirez Treviño, alias X20, was a former police officer and headed the Gulf Cartel in northeastern Mexico.

Alejandro 'Omar' Treviño Morales, alias 'Z42'

MEXICO / JULY 17, 2021

Alejandro "Omar" Treviño Morales, alias "Z42," was one of the leader of Mexican cartel, the Zetas, and was captured 2015.

Servando Gomez Martinez, alias 'La Tuta'

LA FAMILIA MICHOACANA / 2017-03-09

Servando Gomez Martinez, alias "La Tuta," was a former high-ranking member of the Familia Michoacana.

Edgardo Leyva Escandon, alias '24'

ALIAS 24 / 2017-03-09

Edgardo Leyva Escandon, alias “24," works for Mexico's Tijuana Cartel, and has been wanted the US since 2009.

José Jesús Méndez Vargas, alias 'El Chango'

EL CHANGO / 2017-03-10

Jose Jesus Mendez Vargas, alias "El Chango," was the right hand man of the leader of the Familia Michoacana.

Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, alias 'El Chayo'

EL CHAYO / JULY 24, 2019

Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, alias "El Chayo,” was a founding member of the Familia Michoacana and was killed in 2014.

Vicente Carrillo Leyva, alias 'El Ingeniero'

EL INGENIERO (JUAREZ) / 2017-03-10

Vicente Carrillo Leyva, alias "El Ingeniero," was a leader of the Juarez Cartel and was captured in 2009 by Mexican authorities.

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, alias 'El Viceroy'

EL VICEROY / 2017-03-10

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, alias "El Viceroy," inherited the Juárez Cartel after his brother, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, died in 1997.

Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez, alias 'El Coss'

EL COSS / 2017-09-27

Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, alias "El Coss," headed the Gulf Cartel, based in Tamaulipas, until his capture in 2012.

Joaquín Guzmán Loera, alias 'El Chapo'

EL CHAPO / 2019-03-29

Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzmán Loera, alias “El Chapo,” former Sinaloa Cartel leader, is serving life in the US.

Ismael Zambada García, alias 'El Mayo'

EL MAYO / MAY 5, 2021

Ismael Zambada Garcia, alias "El Mayo," is battlng the Chapitos for control of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Hector Beltran Leyva, alias 'El H'

BELTRAN LEYVA ORG / 2016-11-17

Hector Beltran Leyva, alias "El H," headed the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), once among Mexico’s most feared cartels.

Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias 'El Ingeniero'

EL INGENIERO (TIJUANA) / 2016-10-20 20:29:31

Fernando Sanchez Arellano, alias "El Ingeniero," was the head of the Tijuana Cartel until his capture in June 2014.

Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias 'Tony Tormenta'

GULF CARTEL / 2016-11-17

Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias "Tony Tormenta," ran finance and logistics for the Gulf Cartel, before his death in 2010.

Alejandro Flores Cacho

ALEJANDRO FLORES CACHO / 2016-11-17

Little is know about Alejandro Flores Cacho, a pilot who runs air operations for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

Heriberto Lazcano, alias 'Z3'

MEXICO PERSONALITIES / 2016-10-20

Heriberto Lazcano, alias "Z3," was a Mexican special forces commander before headed the Zetas’ drug trafficking operations.

Miguel Angel Treviño, alias 'Z40'

MEXICO PERSONALITIES / JULY 17, 2021

Miguel Angel Treviño, alias "Z40," led the feared Zetas in Mexico before his capture in 2013.

News

GULF CARTEL / 20 MAR 2023

The state of Tamaulipas may not top Mexico's violence rankings, but the Gulf Cartel's fragmentation is raising concerns.

FEATURED / 16 MAR 2023

The Northeast Cartel has established almost complete dominance of criminal economies in Mexico's border city of Nuevo Laredo.

COCAINE / 15 MAR 2023

Australia and New Zealand are the most expensive cocaine markets in the world. For the Sinaloa Cartel, it's worth the trek.

GULF CARTEL / 12 MAR 2023

A faction of one of Mexico's oldest organized crime groups is doing damage control following the murder of two US citizens.

EL COSS / MARCH 10, 2023

The Gulf Cartel is among the oldest most powerful cartels in Mexico, but has lost territory in recent years.

BOLIVIA / 8 MAR 2023

InSight Crime reviews Latin America and the Caribbean's cocaine seizure date from 2022 to find out what it reveals about regional trafficking.

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