Cartel operations across Mexico
Although 15 years ago several cartels dominated in Mexico, internal disputes and the killing or imprisonment of capos by the authorities weakened the criminal organizations, thereby strengthening the CJNG, the only criminal group with a national presence along with the Sinaloa Cartel.
After two crises between the different cartels that led to ruptures and a new correlation of forces, it has been detected that 7 large criminal organizations operate in Mexico, but in reality, there are only two that have a national presence as well as a great corrupting and armament power. : The Pacific Cartel commanded by Ismael el “Mayo” Zambada and the “chapitos”, sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) led by Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias “Mencho”.
A study prepared by the Senate, the Belisario Domínguez Institute, the Collective for the Analysis of Security with Democracy (CASEDE), and the University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP), explains that these criminal groups suffered two major crises that atomized the cartels, that forced these organizations to resort to other criminal activities to maintain their income, such as extortion in the first crisis they suffered.
In the second crisis they suffered, they diversified their activities to new markets, such as fuel theft, railways, carriers, and human trafficking.
The 7 main cartels currently operating in Mexico are the Sinaloa-Pacific Cartel. 2.- Jalisco New Generation Cartel. 3.- The Zetas. 4.- Gulf Cartel. 5.- Organization of Los Beltrán Leyva. 6.- The Family-The Knights Templar and 7.- Relevant local or regional criminal groups.
Currently, the leadership of the Sinaloa-Pacific Cartel (CPS) is based on pillars: Ismael Zambada García, “El Mayo”; the Guzmán Loera family, headed by “Los Chapitos” and the Gente Nueva cell and Rafael Caro Quintero, “El Narco de Narcos”.
The cartels has 37 cells in 28 entities in the country. These include Gente Nueva in Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Guerrero, Nuevo León, Sinaloa and Tabasco. Cartels Unidos-La Unión (CU/CDS) in Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Oaxaca and Michoacán.
La Barredora-El Comando de la Muerte in Colima, Baja California and Mexico City. The Cabreras in Chihuahua and Durango. Los Erres in Baja California and Baja California Sur. Los Mayitos in Baja California and Sinaloa. The Salazars in Chihuahua and Sonora. The Killer Artists in Chihuahua and Los Jaguares in Chihuahua.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho” is the criminal organization with the most operational capacity in Mexico.
His ability to corrupt high-ranking officials in the security and law enforcement spheres and to link with the business class is notable.
It is made up of 36 cells and one division: The Nueva Plaza Cartel in Jalisco and Nayarit.
The CJNG has a presence in all the states of the country, with the exception of Sinaloa. His alliance with the Arellano Félix family and the Tijuana Cartel, known as El Cártel Tijuana Nueva Generación (CTNG) in Baja California, stands out; with La Fuerza Anti Unión Tepito in Mexico City and in the State of Mexico.
ATOMIZED CARTELS
Los Zetas are currently “atomized” into small antagonistic cells with no cohesion because in fact this organization no longer exists as such.
There are 12 divisions in 12 entities of the country, among which El Cártel del Noreste (Los Laredo) stands out in Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. Los Zetas Vieja Escuela-Old School Z in Hidalgo, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas and Veracruz.
Zetas Sangre Nueva in Coahuila, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. The Taliban in Aguascalientes, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Zacatecas. Sangre Zeta in Coahuila and Tamaulipas and the Laguna Cartel in Coahuila.
The Gulf Cartel (CDG) has 14 divisions in 11 states of the country. Los Ciclones stand out in Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. Los Pelones in Guanajuato, Quintana Roo and Yucatan. The Metros in Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. The New Empire Cartel in the state of Mexico.
The Criminal Organization of the Beltrán Leyva (OCBL), now headed by the Meza Flores family, headed by Fausto Isidro Meza, “El Chapo Isidro”, who directs the criminal groups La Oficina and Los Mazatlecos with a presence in Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora.
Other groups that emerged from the OCBL, but antagonistic and without links, were Los Rojos in Mexico City, Mexico State, Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla. Guerreros Unidos in Mexico City, State of Mexico, and Guerrero.
Sierra United Revolutionary (SUR)-Cartel del Sur in the state of Mexico, Guerrero and Morelos. La Barredora-El Comando de la Muerte in Baja California, Mexico City and Colima and the Acapulco Independent Cartel (CIDA) in Mexico City and Guerrero.
The Knights Templar-La Familia Michoacana (CT-FM) currently has 12 divisions in 8 states.
Among these are Los Viagra, led by Nicolás Sierra Santana, “El Gordo” in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, and the Zicuirán Cartel-La Hermandad H-3 of Miguel Ángel Gallegos Godoy, “El Migueladas” in Michoacán, Jalisco, and Colima.
There are also groups like El Cártel de Tláhuac of the Pérez Luna family in Mexico City. The New Company of José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, “El Fresa” and Johnny Olascoaga, “El Pez” in the state of Mexico, Guerrero and Michoacán.
The New Michoacan Family of Homero González Rodríguez or Gonzalo González, “El Gallito” and Los Moicas in Michoacán.
Relevant local and regional groups operate in at all entities in the country in 157 groups. These are dedicated to theft, drug dealing, theft of fuel and LP gas, theft of carriers, and smuggling.
Source: sinembargo.mx, cronica.com.mx, eleconomista.com.mx