Potential Merger of Mexico’s Violent Cartels
It seems that two of Mexico’s most notorious cartels are forming a partnership to establish “mega cartels.” This merger could shift the balance of power in the ongoing conflict involving the Sinaloa Cartel.
The factions within the Sinaloa cartel, known as Chapitos and Mailloux, have engaged in a brutal struggle for over 200 days. Violence in Sinaloa remains alarmingly high. The recent alliance between the Jalisco Nuevo Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Los Chapitos faction could escalate tensions to unprecedented levels. Both of these cartels operate as narcoterrorist organizations throughout Mexico and have been classified as foreign terrorist entities by the Trump administration.
The relationships among these drug cartels are quite intricate. While they may be at odds with one another, they also collaborate on certain enterprises like money laundering and drug trafficking. Interestingly, in 2016, during a celebration at a nightclub in Puerto Vallarta, leaders from the Chapitos faction were accused by CJNG of wrongdoing. At that time, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the then-leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, reportedly warned CJNG’s head, “El Mencho,” of his sons’ influence, and this was all filmed. Shortly thereafter, Chapo’s sons were freed.
Recently, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published its National Drug Threat Assessment Report for 2025. In this report, the DEA highlights the collaboration between CJNG and the Chapitos faction. Many fear that this new partnership coupled with Maitos could escalate violence within Sinaloa and might even lead to a full-blown civil war among various cartels throughout Mexico.
According to reports from Mexican media, CJNG has leveraged the discord between the Sinaloa Cartel’s factions, Los Meyitos and Los Chapitos, by allying with its former rival, Los Chapitos. This strategic alliance may significantly alter the existing power dynamics in Mexico’s criminal landscape, increasing the flow of drugs northward and weapons southward across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The intensifying battles in regions like Tamaulipas and Coahuila have raised alarms. The Chapitos have managed to hold their ground partly because of their alliance with the violent CJNG. However, this partnership benefits CJNG by providing access to areas once controlled by the Rothchapitos. Presently, CJNG dominates the Pacific coast of Mexico and stretches its influence into many northern states.
Surprisingly, CJNG’s reach may extend significantly in the vast territories of Mexico.
In response, Sinaloa cartels find themselves needing to deploy resources to Colima, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and Chihuahua to curb CJNG’s advancement, which has capitalized on the internal strife within Sinaloa. With CJNG now allied with the Chapitos, they can potentially overpower the Maitos faction, which has previously served as a barrier in Zacatecas and Guanajuato.
Government efforts to combat these criminal organizations seem to falter, as they haven’t effectively joined forces against the major cartel factions.
Public Security Secretary Omar Garcia Haufuchu and Defense Secretary General Ricardo Trevira Trejo appear to be struggling to collaborate. Reports indicate a lack of shared intelligence and difficulties in providing essential resources among the military. This rift within the government could seriously impede efforts to confront these powerful criminal organizations.
Local sources suggest that placing Garcia Haufuchu under military command hasn’t progressed due to the reluctance of military leaders to follow civilian orders, often preferring to communicate directly with the president.
The government’s struggle to manage these powerful cartels is evident, and a mix of factors contributes to its inadequacy: the unparalleled resources of the cartels, internal disarray within the government, and the multitude of fronts they must address. Fighting the cartels is challenging enough, but it becomes even more complicated as these organizations forge alliances. The cartels are quite evidently testing the government’s strength, holding considerable sway over the Mexican landscape.
Ongoing armed conflicts have severe consequences, threatening local commerce, material resources, and overall human safety. Additionally, the rising figures of violence have intensified a sense of fear and anxiety among ordinary citizens in Mexico.
