Headline:
Mexico‘s Narcotics Trafficking Landscape: Emerging Cartels and Power Shifts
Article:
In 2024, Mexico saw significant shifts in its narcotics trafficking landscape, with the emergence of new cartels and cells that, although not yet nationally consolidated, have raised alarm among authorities due to their potential to generate violence. As the country entered a new era under President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, a mapping initiative conducted by the Defense, Navy, and Security and Citizen Protection Secretariats painted a vivid picture of organized crime‘s reach across Mexico.
Mexico’s Leading Criminal Organizations
The government’s estratégica de 100 días map identified ten relevant criminal organizations operating in various regions of the country:
- Cártel de Sinaloa (CDS) – Present in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. Comparatively, Lantia Intelligence’s 2019-2020 Map noted CDS’s presence in ten additional states.
- Cártel del Pacífico (CDS) – Active in Sonora, through cells such as Los Pelones, Los Cazadores, Los Fantasmas, and Los Rusos. The Cártel de Caborca was not mentioned in the official map but has been reported in Sonora and Quintana Roo.
- Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) – Controls Nayarit, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Colima, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Puebla, Morelos, Estado de México, Michoacán, and Guerrero. It has a presence in Sonora, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. Compared to Lantia Intelligence’s report, CJNG has expanded its reach by six entities and reduced it in eight.
- Cártel del Golfo (CDG) – No longer solely controlling Tamaulipas, but maintains a presence there, as well as in San Luis Potosí. Los Arellano Félix continue to operate in Baja California.
- La Familia Michoacana (LFM) – Remains active in Michoacán and the Estado de México.
- Los Rusos (affiliated with the CDS) – Now operate in Guerrero.
- Cártel de los Beltrán Leyva – Maintains cells in Nayarit and Morelos.
- Cártel del Noreste (CDN) – Controls Tamaulipas and has a presence in Nuevo León and Tabasco.
- Cártel Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) – Continues operandi in Guanajuato, where the CJNG splinter group Cártel Nueva Plaza also operates.
- Los Viagras – Have formed an alliance with CJNG to create the Cártel Michoacán Nueva Generación.
Emerging Criminal Organizations
In 2024, several new criminal organizations emerged due to alliances, primarily with CJNG:
- Cártel Michoacán Nueva Generación (CMNG) – A result of an alliance between CJNG and Los Viagras.
- Cártel Tabasco Nueva Generación (CTNG) – A splinter group of La Barredora in Tabasco.
- Cártel Chiapas-Guatemala – Composed of CJNG deserters and Guatemalan sicarios.
- Gente Nueva Generación (GNG) – Emerged in Guerrero.
These emerging criminal organizations, along with established ones, continue to shape Mexico’s criminal landscape. The government’s newly adopted security strategies aim to combat these threats effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of Mexican citizens.
Keywords: Mexico, narcotics trafficking, cartels, organized crime, security, criminal landscape, emerging threats
Meta Description: Delve into Mexico’s shifting narcotics trafficking landscape with our comprehensive exploration of emerging cartels and power dynamics, informed by official government mappings and expert insights.
