The infamous list of the most influential Mexican cartels in the United States: CJNG and Sinaloa are not the only ones

In his National Drug Threat Assessment 2020 (NDTA), the Medication Control Administration (DEA) assured that Mexican cartels pose the greatest threat of drug trafficking to the United States, since they have established various transport routes; They have advanced communication skills and strong affiliations with American criminal groups.

“The criminal activities of these organizations go beyond drug trafficking and negatively impact the safety and well-being of the citizens of the United States.”, Express

The agency noted that the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJGN) They are the largest organizations in the United States. However, they also targeted other seven clusters who, he said, have taken control of the drug market in the United States.

1. Sinaloa Cartel

The Sinaloa cartel, classified as the oldest and most established criminal organization in Mexico, exports and distributes wholesale quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in the USA; this by establishing distribution centers in various cities such as New York, Boston, Tucson, San Diego, among others.

Narcotics, the agency reported, are mainly trafficked at various points along the southeastern border between the two countries. To accomplish this, guards are assigned at points of entry that also control established contraband corridors in the Arizona and California areas.

Likewise, it has been verified that this organization leads the distribution of fentanyl, since it has set up several clandestine laboratories in their territories, from where this substance is processed and exported, known as “The drug of death.”

2. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJGN)

The Jalisco’s Next Generation Cartel traffics in various narcotics, such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, through corridors located in cities bordering the southeastern border of the United States such as Tijuana, Juarez and Nuevo Laredo; also has control in the Port of Manzanillo, one of the busiest in Mexico.

The four-letter cartel’s rapid expansion in the drug market is due to its involvement in violent clashes with Mexican government security forces, as well as with rival cartels. Its presence in the United States is reported in the cities of Chicago, Kansas, Santa Rosa, Orlando, New York, among others.

Almost hand in hand with the Sinaloa cartel, the CJGN the position as the most dominant criminal organization in Mexico is debated. In addition, it rapidly increased its presence, dominating 23 of the 32 states of the republic, mainly in the central areas and certain strategic points on the US-Mexico border.

3. Beltrán-Leyva organization

Despite its weakening following the arrest and death of several of its leaders in recent years, the Organization Beltran-Leyva continues in the struggle to position itself within the drug trade, but in a less structured way compared to the way it originally operated.

His operating mode is to forge alliances with larger cartels to access the contraband corridors of the southeastern border of the United States, through which it mainly circulates, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine in Denver, Bellingham, Phoenix, El Paso, Miami, among others.

4. Los Zetas and the Northeast Cartel

Unlike previous organizations, The Zetas and its largest fraction, the northeast cartel, have a greater presence on the northeastern border of Mexico.

However, from there they control the smuggling operations which are carried out mainly in the areas of the southeastern strip such as Laredo border and Eagle Pass in Texas; and the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León and parts of Tamaulipas.

5. United warriors

Over time, the cartel United warriors gradually became involved in the trafficking of heroin; We know that he is currently concluding an alliance with the CJGN, whose transportation networks it uses to ship drugs to the United States, as well as to return its products to Mexico.

This grouping, formerly a fraction of the Beltrán-Leyva Organization, is located and operates out of the Mexican state of Guerrero, whose presence has led to an increase in violence within the state.

6. The Gulf Cartel

With bases established in parts of Tamaulipas and Zacatecas, the Gulf Cartel directs its illicit activities towards heroin and cocaine trafficking, whose cargoes are transported to the territory of the United States in the bordering areas McAllen and Brownsville, Texas and transported to Chicago, the only city where the DEA has recorded movements.

7. Juarez and La Línea cartel

Although they do not have the same expansion as the larger cartels, the The Juarez cartel and its unitary fraction, La Línea, These are two powerful groups that have a big impact on drug trafficking in the United States.

Its greatest territorial influence is found in Chihuahua near the southeastern border with the neighboring country, where they transport cargoes of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana; This area is known to have profitable smuggling opportunities between Ciudad de Juárez and El Paso, Texas.

8. The Michoacan family

As the name suggests, this group operates out of the Mexican state of Michoacán, but its operational capacity has declined due to cartel clashes, as well as successful police operations in the state.

Like other groups, the smuggling activities of Familia Michoacana operate on the basis of some links with the CJNG and alliances with smaller groups that allow them to expand their market to more territory.

9. Reds

The Reds are a criminal cell that broke away from the Beltrán Leyva organization, like United Warriors. This “mini cartel” has been identified as responsible for the increase in violence in Guerrero, Puebla and Morelos; entities where they are most active.

Although the management of the group has turned much more than in other cartels, he succeeded in controlling the heroin market in American cities such as Oklahoma and Jackson.

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