No one knows who is who. Plaza bosses get promoted as soon as the old one is executed or captured. Keeping track is a nightmare, and very hard to confirm.
Alliances among cartels change constantly and cells
breakaway or start working independently.
For a while I was attempting to update the current affairs
of the Mexican drug war, but just when I have it settle some dispute over
authenticity of fact derails any attempt to get the beat of the heart in the
cartel structure.
So I was happy User G]-[057 in the Borderland Beat forum
attempted to give it a go. I thought it looked good, although I am sure someone
will dispute some or parts of it, but here it goes:
MAIN CARTELS:CARTEL DE SINALOA
CARTEL DE JUAREZ
CARTEL DEL GOLFO
CARTEL DE TIJUANA
CARTEL DE LOS ZETAS
CARTEL BELTRAN LEYVA
CABALLEROS TEMPLARIOS
CARTEL DE SONORA
CARTEL DE GUADALAJARA
CARTEL DE OAXACA O EL ISTMO
CARTEL DE COLIMA
CARTEL DEL MILENIO
CARTEL DE NEZA
OTHER SMALL CARTELS:
CARTEL JALISCO NUEVA GENERACION
CARTEL DEL CENTRO
CARTEL INDEPENDIENTE DE ACAPULCO
CARTEL DE LA SIERRA
LA FAMILIA
CARTEL PACIFICO SUR
CARTEL LOS PELONES
ARMED GROUPS OPERATING FOR A CARTEL:
LOS TEOS
GUERREROS UNIDOS
COMANDO DEL DIABLO
LA BARREDORA
GUARDIANES DE MORELOS
LOS TEOS
LA REISTENCIA "C.T"
COMANDO NEGRO "CAF"
FUERZAS ESPECIALES MULETAS
FUERZAS ESPECIALES KOREANO "CIDA"
FUERZAS ESPECIALES ZETAS
GRUPO OPERATIVO ZETAS
LA COMPANIA
LA MA~A
SINALOA FEDERATION BEGINING- TO NOW:
LOS LINCES "JUAREZ"
LOS M's "C.D.S OR JUAREZ" ???
LA LINIA "JUAREZ"
LOS TEJAS "C.D.S OR JUAREZ" ???
LOS CHACHOS "C.D.S OR JUAREZ" ???
LA GENTE NUEVA "C.D.S"
LOS ANTRAX "C.D.S"
NUEVA GENERACION DEL CHAPO "C.D.S"
LOS AZTECAS "JUAREZ"
COMANDO X "C.D.S" mixture of G.N and Antrax i guess
BELTRANES FACTIONS SINCE BEGINING TO NOW:
LOS MAZATLECOS "BELTRANES"
LOS NEGROS "C.D.S AND BELTRANES"
LOS PELONES "BELTRANES"
LOS TARASCOS "BELTRANES OR FAMILIA"
LOS NUMEROS "BELTRANES"
LA MANO CON OJOS "BELTRANES"
LOS CHARRITOS "BELTRANES"
LOS GUEROS "BELTRANES"
LOS ROJOS "BELTRANES" they also had a group
FUERZAS ESPECIALES DE ARTURO "BELTRANES"
LOS SULTANES "BELTRANES"
Old school CDG 2003-2008 era some still exist. Back in the Day every border town had their own Nick Name of each CDG faction. I Just dont remember who was who. After the Separation of Zs and CDG, everyone scattered joing one side. Then the CDG internal war, seperated them again. All them groups have songs, either by the Cartel rap singers or Beto Quintanilla and his Brother Chuy.
LOS ARFILES "CDG"
LOS LOBOS "CDG"
LOS ESCORPIOS "CDG"
LOS KALIMANES "CDG"
LOS ROJOS DE LAREDO "CDG"
LOS ORIONES "CDG"
LOS COBRAS "CDG"
LOS DELTAS "CDG"
LOS SIERRAS "CDG"
LOS GAMMAS "CDG"
COMANDO 7 "CDG"
LOS METROS DE REYNOSA "CDG"
LOS L's "CDG"
LOS CICLONES "CDG"
LOS ALACRANES "CDG"
LOS TIBURONES "CDG"
LOS XW "CDG"
other groups that fall uncatagorized:
La Gente Nueva (Nuevo Leon) not sure if it was a branch of the Sinaloas.
CARTELES UNIDOS "The Modern Federation of Sinaloa??"
The flow charts (click for larger version):
THE BEGINNING
SHIFTS OF POWERS
THE NEW ERA
When Guadalajara cartel fell it split into 4 cartels not 5. The Gulf Cartel was formed By Juan Garcia Abrego in early 70s with help from his uncle Juan N. Guerra which Controled the South Texas border since the 50s. They were never associated with the Guadalajara Faction.
ReplyDeleteSonora was also part of the split with the quintero brothers. They often called them the Sonora Cartel
DeleteG(-)057
Oops i didnt mean to put that of the sonora cartel. I meant the gulf. El padrino would also have word inside of the gulf cartel. Unless wikipedia is wrong.
DeleteG(-)057
which cartel is the biggest ?
ReplyDeleteThis thing is not accurate.
ReplyDeleteTell us in what to correct them.
DeleteWell, in 2008/09 LFM did not split from the z and the Golfo because they alied themselves with the Milenio/ Valencia cartel. El Chayo, Tuta, Minsa y El Chango werent happy with the way the z were doing buisyness on,Michoaca and liked even less the way the outsider z were treating the people of Michoacan. Also, los Valencia wete allies of The CDS specially of Nacho Coronel and El Chapo. Coronel ofered El Chayo the state of ax michoacan for LFM to run free of Valenvia presense if they the LFM were to splinter from los z and thata wen the LFM VS. Z war started. Also both The Colima and the Oaxaca cartels were at that time allies of The Sinaloa Xartel. So basically you had CDS, CD COLIMA, CD OAXACA, VALENCIA OR MILENIO CARTEL AND LA FAMILIA MICHOACANA VS. GOLFO, Z, JUAREZ AND TIJUANA this in early 2008 before The Beltranes broke off from the CD SINALOA after El Mochomo was captured.
Deleteel cartel de nuevo leon!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThats a music band :) i jam to them
DeleteG(-)057
Even though ive heard rumors Nuevo Leon back in the 80's and 90's it had several independent factions. Hmmmm i need to investigate that in google.
DeleteG(-)057
Yeah, the Gulf Cartel was actually the one that got El Padrino arrested.
ReplyDeleteAll these Cartel will ceased to exist if the U.S.A. legalizes these drugs. There is a small but emerging Asian communities in Canada (Viets, Khmer-Cham, mixed Chinese) that grow marijuana and profits from the distribution. Their revenues are not in the millions & billions like the Mexican Cartels but Asians have a philosophy of knowing where their limits are and do not consort to brutal beheadings or executions. One can go to Vancouver, B.C. - that's British Columbia NOT Baja California :-), and buy weed at cost and enjoy them without limits. There are some Asian that dwell with the manufacturing of "X" in B.C. and Ontario but is not as popular with weed production.
ReplyDeleteWrong. If u read Vancouver newspapers u can see how those gangs are fighting for turf also. There have been reports of gun battles in broad daylight. Greedy drug dealers are part of ALL ETHNIC GROUUPS no matter what geographical location.
DeleteThis is a very good effort. Thank you for posting this. Just think if another part of the picture could be charted and dated that being being government agency corruption, gargantuan economic entities, humungous corporate power plays, political changeling parties and subsequent blood letting rivers created to greedily gather all monies. An amazing painting would have to accompany the charts. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteAnd the list goes on and on it may b easier to say who's not involved
DeleteBiggest is Sinaloa because Chapo has out lasted all the other Capos. The other ex-bosses are dead or in a US jails.Before the Zetas broke off from the Gulf cartel they were the biggest Cartel.
ReplyDeleteEl Cartel de Sonora
ReplyDeleteLa familia!!!
ReplyDelete@12:51PM
ReplyDeletePlease tell us what is in dispute in your mind...we want to make corrections where warranted...don't just say "not accurate" that contributes nothing..together we can perfect the chart....paz chivis
Also La Familia Michoacana for some reason everyone thinks they are dead, but they still have a VERY strong presence in the states of Michoacan, Guerrero, Jalisco, Guanaguato, Colima, DF and Mexico city as well as Morelos and less so in Tijuana, Baja California Norte so dont count them out YET.
DeleteYeah, right.
ReplyDeleteCJNG is starting to enter Southern Nayarit. It seems like there is friction with Sinaloa. Is there any other info or rumors regarding a split?
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are becoming independent more likely they will be absorbed by C.D.G. CDG might even break ties with CDS when mochomo comes out. And B.L.O break ties with Z's ...
DeleteIts just a thought, since cartels dont usually last with pacts.
G(-)057
With such dizzying changes in alliances, it is indeed a very dangerous world for the cartel members.
ReplyDeleteHorrendous!!
One minute, the guy sitting next to you is a friend, next, he is your deadly enemy!
It all depends on who got the word first.
The first to know will behead his nearest enemy.
That's the mess that's out there!
Looks sloppy and confusing . Maybe color categorize . You have some groups that are in the same slots but are enemies. To be honest they all work together and share smuggling routes so they all are allies and enemies . All about money and pushing the dope through. An endless cycle of killers who want to become shot callers and farmers trapped in the middle of it all . The poor stay poor or enjoy minor luxuries while the drug addicted, womanizers who roll around in suv's fight for the fast life , fight for bragging rights to corridors that will never be there's .
ReplyDeleteCan someone elaborate on what's going on in Guanajuato & Leon specifically? I know it's hard to predict but what do people think about it in the short and medium term?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like they put some of the violence on hold when the Pope was visiting but this kind of implies that they'd go back to shooting it out doesn't it?
In Gto. You have LA FAMILIA MICHOACANA and yes they arent dead they are actually alive and well. You also have the Z, Los Caballeros Templarios who broke off from La Familia. And latelly youve had people from the CDS in the shape of both La Gente Nueva and CJNG entrandole al quite para quedarse con esas dos plazas y com el estado entero. So you have 4 major cartels and a new cartel fighting for control, you guys are in trouble.
DeleteAlso at a time oziel cardenas sent a hit squad on the arellanos. They shitted bricks and called a truce with oziel.
ReplyDeleteG(-)057
Well word out here in DOS laredos region is ex tejas members along with el tubis brother are leading an attack on nuevo Laredo ex tejas members along with gulf members are getting help from people tired of Los zetas dirty and terrorizing ways they are,getting alot of intelligence and passing it off to elite,fighters from gulf and sinaloa branches how else would mantas and dismembered zetas appear in nuevo Laredo where the zetas have eyes n ears all over that city it seems the own zetas people are now betraying each other God,help the innocent people,of,Los DOS laredos it appears nuevo Laredo might go up,in flames at any moment people need to keep an eye on nuevo Laredo cuz wen the ship goes down u better be ready!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLos zetas are the biggest cartel and they will soon control all of Mexico... That's a sad ending for a beautiful country
ReplyDeleteAs long as el chapo and el mayo zambada are around that won't happen. Keep dreaming
DeleteYou are fun, those pendegos are loosing plazas left and right. Not only that but their closest allies are getting tired of them fucking up and killing innocent people for no reason so, it might be possible for the Beltranes to breal their alliance,with las zorras.
Delete7/15 1:48PM,
ReplyDeletePlease..give us a break with your "Legalize drugs in the US and the cartels will cease to exist"...bullshit! These are criminal groups, who will exploit whatever illegal endeavor they can to make money! Whether it be kidnapping, extortion, theft, prostitution, etc...legalization affects the law abiding citizen, not the criminal! Take your head out the sand and educate yourself and stop comparing "apples to oranges" what works in other foreign countries will not necessarily work in Mexico!!!
Buggs et al:
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciate the efforts made in this valuable report. Your introduction should alert all to temper their criticisms.
Capturing the "dynamics" and complexities of the cartels by static charts and listing is a daunting task. You did a fine job in this, especially since, I am not aware of a similar published effort anywhere.
I follow BLB regularly and appreciate everything the BLB staff and supporter do. I also value the comments section for learning things.... Of course, I filter out the nonsense etc.
Again, thanks for the valuable, often unique and even courageous information services you provide.
Mexico Watcher
"Please..give us a break with your "Legalize drugs in the US and the cartels will cease to exist"...bullshit"
ReplyDeleteYou wasting your breath,and you know it.
A small article was just written "resolving" 3 mysterious homicides here in Mexico where I live. All three, that occurred over several months were apparently committed by sicarios sent by "The Office" from Aguascalientes. Who are these people...they are not on your list?
ReplyDeleteLAZCANO WAS ARRESTED BYE THE (VETA TEAM) MEXICO SPECIAL FORCES AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CIA,DEA,ICE TO TAKE DOWN OTHER ZETAS HINTS DOUBLE K CD VICTORIA,THIS IS NOT BEING PUBLISHED DUE TO THE POWER STRUGGLE,HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE U.S FOR SOME TIME NOW.ALSO WHEN EL CHAPO REFERS TO LOS ZETAS HE PUTS Z-40 NOT LAZCANO,THE CARTEL IS CHANGING AND THERE IS CONSTINT MEETINGS IN MEXICO AND U.S
ReplyDeleteLos Mata por Drogas Los mata por dinero
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if my last post went through?
ReplyDeleteCARTEL JALISCO NUEVA GENERACION is not a small cartel anymore. CARTEL DE SONORA does not exist.
ReplyDeleteCartel de Sonora is actually Cartel De Sinaloa
DeleteLFM is coming back to its home land all you guys dont know whats really going on i have familiy that is in that area and as of yesterday LFM is taking out anyone who flipped on them . I know it might sound cool to you guys to just google stuff or try to sound like you know whats going on but i have primos in the FM and ive also lost alot of familiy as well basically all im saying is stop acting like you guys know whats going on unless you really know people from El Colomo thats where El Chango Don Chuy is from LFM never went anywhere................. so stop with the whole thing about this and that el chango was busted at a home not at a check point like they lie about so get some real facts ..
ReplyDeletechapo is the best boss ive ever seen and business in great in the higher 48 plus states thanks to sinola and chapo ....guzman is the top boss
ReplyDeleteHi BB
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand 'Los M's' are men from CDS that El Mayo sent to Chihuahua to back up Chapo's people in the fight against La Linea. This happened shortly after Chapo's arrest in 2014.