What Mexican cartels are active in 2024?

As of 2024, several powerful Mexican cartels remain active and influential, dominating the country's criminal landscape. While the specific dynamics are constantly shifting due to rivalries, fragmentation, and law enforcement efforts, the most prominent and impactful groups continue to be a significant challenge.

Overview of Active Cartels in 2024

The Mexican cartel landscape is characterized by a few dominant organizations, alongside numerous smaller, regional groups and splinter factions. These groups are deeply entrenched in illicit activities, ranging from drug trafficking to extortion and human trafficking, impacting security and stability across Mexico and beyond.

Key Dominant Cartels

Two cartels stand out as the most powerful and geographically widespread:

• Sinaloa Cartel: As of 2024, the Sinaloa Cartel remains Mexico's most dominant drug cartel. This highly influential organization is primarily involved in the distribution of a vast array of illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cannabis, and MDMA. Known for its decentralized structure and extensive international networks, the Sinaloa Cartel continues to exert significant control over key drug trafficking routes into the United States. You can learn more about its operations on its Wikipedia page.

• Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG): The CJNG has rapidly emerged as one of Mexico's most aggressive and powerful cartels. It poses a significant challenge to the Sinaloa Cartel and other groups, known for its extreme violence and rapid territorial expansion. The CJNG is heavily involved in fentanyl and methamphetamine production and trafficking, as well as extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Its presence is felt across numerous Mexican states. For a deeper understanding of its history and impact, explore resources from organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations.

Other Significant Active Cartels

Beyond the two dominant forces, several other cartels maintain a notable presence and operate within specific regions or engage in particular criminal enterprises:

• Gulf Cartel (Cartel del Golfo): One of Mexico's oldest criminal organizations, the Gulf Cartel, though fragmented, continues to operate, primarily in northeastern Mexico. It engages in drug trafficking, extortion, and fuel theft. Its various factions often clash for territorial control.

• Los Zetas and Splinter Groups (e.g., Cartel del Noreste): Originally formed by former elite military personnel, Los Zetas gained notoriety for extreme violence and diversified into a wide range of criminal activities beyond drug trafficking, including extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking. While the original structure has largely fragmented, powerful splinter groups like the Cartel del Noreste (CDN) remain highly active, particularly in Nuevo León and Tamaulipas.

• La Familia Michoacana and Knights Templar Cartel: These groups have historically dominated the state of Michoacán. While their influence has waned compared to their peak, they remain active in drug production (especially methamphetamine), extortion, and control over local economies in their strongholds. The Knights Templar, which emerged from La Familia, shared a quasi-religious ideology that was used to justify their violent actions.

A Dynamic and Fragmented Landscape

The Mexican cartel landscape is highly fluid, characterized by constant rivalries, alliances, and the emergence of new splinter groups. Law enforcement efforts, both in Mexico and the United States, continuously disrupt operations, leading to power vacuums and increased violence as groups vie for control.

Activities and Reach

Mexican cartels engage in a wide array of illicit activities beyond drug trafficking, showcasing their complex and diversified criminal enterprises:

• Drug Trafficking: Primarily focusing on the production and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and MDMA to international markets, especially the United States.
• Extortion and Kidnapping: Targeting businesses, individuals, and even local governments for ransom and protection money.
• Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling: Exploiting vulnerable migrants traversing Mexico to reach the U.S. border.
• Fuel Theft (Huachicol): Illegally tapping pipelines and stealing fuel for sale on the black market.
• Illegal Mining and Logging: Profiting from the illicit extraction of natural resources.
• Territorial Control: Exercising de facto governance in some regions, imposing their own rules, and collecting "taxes" from local populations.

Major Active Mexican Cartels in 2024