This article covers the deadliest cartel that operates its illegal work in 2022. Thousands of people die in Mexico's conflict between trafficking groups and officials every year. As they try to compete and control territory. These cartels are incharge of the large swaths of the country and political corruption, killings and kidnappings.
1. Sinaloa Cartel
According to the US government the Sinaloa cartel is world's most powerful trafficking groups. It was created in late 1980s and was commanded by notorious drug lord Joaqin El Chapo Guzman. El Chapo commonly known as shorty was once one of the wealthiest man in the world. Under his leadership the cartel established a reputation for brutality and vanquished numerous competing gangs.
Sinaloa became the major supply of illegal narcotics to the United States. During Guzman's long presidency the cartel abducted, tortured and killed the members of the rival groups. It also had access to massive armament including Guzman's gold-plated AK47 and rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
However, the drug lord was sentenced to life in prison following one of the most high profile cases in modern US history. Prosecutors alleged Guzman used a network of drug traffickers, kidnappers and assassins to transport cocaine, heroin and marijuana. As a result of confinement there was an increase in violence in the region as other factions attempted to benefit the from his detention.
Despite this the Sinaloa Cartel maintains great power. It still rules over the northern Mexico and is claimed to have a presence in places as far as Buenes Aires and New York. Expert say it earns billions of dollar by carrying illegal drugs to United States, Europe and Asia. When Guzman was detained in 2019 the cartel's gunmen revealed their true military strength. They engaged in the confrontation with army in broad day light, set fire to cars and even staged a jail break before their commander was finally liberated.
It demonstrated that the organization remained a strong force.
2. The Tijuana Cartel
The Tijuana Cartel was founded by the Arellano Felix family. Once the powerful player in Mexico's narcotics trade lost control of smuggling, extortion and kidnapping racket in Tijuana's strategic north-western border town since the arrest and assassinations of the organization's five brothers. Edina Arelleno presently controls the organization.
3. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)
The Jalisco new generation of CJNG is another cartel that will continue the operate. Their land is mainly in west in the Tierra Caliente region. Sinaloa's most powerful and violent adversary is the Jalisco cartel which was created in 2010. The organization has quickly spread through out Mexico and is now country's one of the most powerful organized criminal gangs.
It's assets are believed to be valued more than $20 billions. The cartel is led by Ruben Oseguera known as El Mencho a former officer and Mexico's most wanted criminal. 10 million USD has been prized on his head. Accouding to the US officials the Jalisco Cartel is one of the continent's largest trafficker of synthetic medications.
It has grown significantly more powerful in recent years. It is still the most active cartel in Mexico. The continuing spike in violence in Tijuana, Juarez, Guanajuato and Mexico city is due in part to its efforts to broden their control area. The cartel has regained notoriety due to a series of attacks on security agents and government officials. This gang has shot down an army helicopter with a rocket-proppelled grenade, murdered hundreds of state officials and even hanged the body of its victims from bridges.
4. The Guerreros Unidos
The Guerreros Unidos based in central Mexico are a splinter faction of the Beltran Leyva Organization. Extortion and kidnapping are the organization's major goals. Although it also transfer drugs to the United States, the Guerreros Unidos are known for the aggressive methods and use of severe violence which have drawn the attention of security services and pose a long-term threat to the group's survival.
In december 2011 the organization made their first public appearance claiming responsibility of triple homicide in Morelos. The Guerreros Unidos carried out many high-profiled attacks in next year including the wave of attacks on bars in Morelos that left 5 people dead and 15 injured. In december 2012 the gang sent hitman dressed as doctor to kill the leader of rival BLO splinter group Los Rojos iin a hospital in Mexico City, where he was recovering from previous assassination attempt.
Following September 2014 attack on student demonstrators in Iguala Guerrero which was blamed on the group. According to Mexican authorities local police detained 43 students, according to the they gave them over to the Guerreros Unidos gang. They proceeded to murder students and burn their remains which was named "Ayotzinapa Massacare".