India Today has charted the spheres of influence controlled by major drug cartels operating within Mexico, widely regarded as one of the most significant global hubs for narcotics production and trafficking. Often described as a central source for cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, Mexico also serves as the primary transit corridor for drugs entering the United States and other international markets. Recently, the country witnessed a major development when Mexican defence authorities confirmed that the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was killed during a security operation conducted on Sunday, marking the fall of one of the most powerful figures in organised crime.
The cartel had been led by Ruben Oseguera, widely known by his alias “El Mencho,” a former police officer who rose to become Mexico’s most wanted criminal. Authorities had placed a reward of 15 million US dollars—approximately Rs 136 crore—for information leading to his capture. His death represents a significant moment in Mexico’s ongoing struggle against organised crime, although analysts note that the country’s narcotics landscape remains dominated by multiple powerful groups rather than a single organisation.
Mexico’s drug crisis is primarily shaped by two dominant criminal syndicates: the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Both organisations were formally designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations last year by US President Donald Trump, reflecting growing international concern about their scale, violence, and cross-border operations. Alongside these two major players, several other influential groups continue to operate across the country, including the Gulf Cartel, the Juarez Cartel—also known as La Línea—the Northeast Cartel, and La Familia. Numerous smaller regional organisations and unaffiliated criminal networks further contribute to the complexity of Mexico’s synthetic drug trade and the ongoing security crisis.
The territorial distribution of cartel influence has been mapped by India Today using analysis from Mexican journalist and author Ioan Grillo, known for his work El Narco: Inside Mexico’s Criminal Insurgency. His research highlights the highly localised control exercised by cartels, where specific municipalities and regions fall under competing criminal authorities. According to this analysis, the CJNG maintains a strong presence across several strategic states, including Guanajuato, Michoacán, Colima, Veracruz, Guerrero, Zacatecas, Baja California, and the State of Mexico, often referred to as Edomex. These areas are key trafficking corridors and production zones that allow the cartel to expand both domestic and international distribution networks.
The Sinaloa Cartel, meanwhile, has long been recognised by US authorities as one of the largest and most sophisticated drug-trafficking organisations in the world. Although the arrest of one of its leaders in July 2019 fractured its internal command structure, triggering violent clashes among rival factions seeking control, the organisation remains highly influential. It continues to dominate large portions of north-western Mexico and reportedly maintains an international presence stretching from South America, including Buenos Aires, to major US cities such as New York.
In contrast, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is a relatively newer organisation, having emerged around 2010. Despite its later formation, it rapidly evolved into Sinaloa’s strongest rival and, after 2019, became one of Mexico’s most powerful organised crime groups. The CJNG plays a central role in the illegal amphetamine trade supplying both the United States and European markets and is also believed to have connections extending into Asian drug networks. Its rapid expansion has been driven largely by its aggressive tactics and extreme levels of violence, which have helped it seize territory and intimidate competitors.
Reports attribute numerous high-profile acts of violence to the CJNG, including the alleged downing of a military helicopter using a rocket-propelled grenade, targeted killings of dozens of government officials, and public displays of brutality such as hanging victims’ bodies from bridges as a warning to rivals. These tactics have reinforced the cartel’s reputation as one of the most ruthless criminal organisations operating in the region.
Another major player, the Gulf Cartel, represents one of Mexico’s oldest criminal networks, with origins dating back to the 1980s. The group initially gained prominence through large-scale trafficking of cocaine and marijuana into the United States and later diversified into heroin and amphetamine smuggling. During its early rise, the cartel maintained close links with Colombian drug organisations. It was first led by Juan García Ábrego, who became the first Mexican drug lord to appear on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list before being captured in 1996 and sentenced to life imprisonment. His successor, Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, strengthened the cartel’s paramilitary capabilities by recruiting corrupt members of elite Mexican special forces, a move that intensified violence and eventually led to the emergence of splinter groups when those operatives broke away to form rival cartels.
Following the reported killing of El Mencho, violence surged in regions historically controlled by the CJNG. Authorities reported incidents involving burning vehicles used to block highways and disrupt movement. In Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco and a future host venue for the upcoming World Cup, businesses temporarily closed while helicopters and emergency sirens filled the skies, prompting officials to advise residents to remain indoors as security forces attempted to stabilise the situation.
The operation that resulted in Oseguera’s death occurred amid increasing pressure from the United States on Mexican authorities to intensify efforts against cartel activity. President Trump had repeatedly urged stronger action, and discussions within the White House, including conversations involving Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, reportedly explored the possibility of unilateral US military intervention inside Mexican territory to combat drug trafficking networks.
Oseguera had been among the most sought-after fugitives in Mexico and was a founding figure of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Under his leadership, the organisation expanded dramatically, becoming one of the country’s most powerful and violent criminal enterprises, responsible for trafficking massive quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into the United States and other global markets. His death may reshape cartel dynamics, but experts caution that entrenched criminal structures and competing factions are likely to continue fuelling instability and violence across Mexico’s narcotics landscape.
