What Cartels Operate in the United States?
If you’ve wondered what cartels operate in the United States, you’re not alone. Over the past several decades, there’s been a large number of cartels that have operated throughout the country. Here are some of them:
Sinaloa
The Sinaloa cartel is a powerful drug trafficking organization operating in Mexico, the United States, and over 50 countries around the world. It was founded in the state of Sinaloa in the 1960s and became one of the most powerful drug organizations in the world.
One of the most notable members of the cartel is El Chapo, also known as El Matador. He was arrested in March 2016, and is currently in custody. His sons are also under arrest.
The Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful Mexican drug trafficking organization, and it has the largest presence in the United States. It has a large network of smuggling operations and local partners throughout the country. In fact, the group has so much influence that it has penetrated federal law enforcement and government forces.
The cartel has expanded its operations in the northeastern part of the United States. A key component of its operations is the wholesale distribution of drugs in the U.S. They use the United States’ banking system to launder money.
Gulf
Gulf Cartel is a drug trafficking organization based in Mexico. It is a significant source of heroin and marijuana to the U.S. Although it has been losing territory to rivals in recent years, it has a strong base of power in northeastern Mexico.
The cartel has lost ground in the Midwest and upper Midwest, but it is still present on the Northeast. There are three key players that dominate the Gulf Cartel’s operations. They are Juan Garcia Abrego, Carlos Costilla-Sanchez, and Jose Alfredo Cardenas-Martinez.
Gulf Cartel’s operatives are closely related to foreign terrorist organizations. This is a serious threat to US citizens.
Gulf Cartel’s main base of power is in northeastern Mexico. It has also built a large delivery network across the United States. These networks have been constructed through illegal trafficking of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Gulf Cartel is a criminal syndicate that has been active in Mexico for decades. Its headquarters are in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. As it battles Los Zetas for control of their territories, it has managed to maintain a significant presence in the organized crime landscape. However, it has lost territory to rivals, including the Zetas’ enforcer wing.
CJNG
The CJNG cartel is the second largest Mexican drug cartel in the United States. This narcotics group is based in Guadalajara, Mexico. Its members operate in the US and are primarily employed to oversee the distribution of drugs in the US.
While the majority of their operations are in the US, CJNG is aggressively expanding into new territory outside of the country. In Guatemala, they are attempting to cultivate local proxies.
CJNG has also attempted to gun down the police chief of the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood in Mexico City. These violent attempts have led to a number of deaths.
Sinaloa Cartel is the largest Mexican drug cartel in the United States. With a presence in more than a thousand cities, the organization has a major influence in the U.S. It has established external relationships, while seeking to gain a foothold in Europe and Oceania.
Gulf Cartel, another significant Mexican drug cartel, has a stronghold in northeast Mexico. However, it has divided into a number of factions in recent years, losing its leadership and power.
Autodefensas
The Autodefensas are an armed force based in Mexico that fights drug cartels. These groups of citizens have been gaining prominence since the rise of the cartels, and some observers say they’re brave fighters in their own right.
The government, which had a conciliatory stance for a while, has taken an increasingly tougher stance against the vigilantes. This has polarized public opinion. Some people see the vigilantes as noble freedom fighters, while others think they’re merely corrupt thugs.
The Mexican government has sent in federal troops to assist with the Autodefensas. However, the autodefensas still use heavy artillery and operate outside the government’s good graces.
The government also has an alliance with the CRAC, a group of community authorities that is the oldest and most respected in Mexico. Its aim is to improve security in rural areas.
However, the vigilante groups have become a formidable force against cartels. They have been able to make gains quickly. In recent years, the government has failed to provide the necessary security in many rural areas.