New Cartel Alliance in Mexico: CJNG and El Chapo's Sons Could Reshape Power Dynamics

Evolving Cartel Operations

• 📈 The DEA reports that major Mexican cartels, including CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel, are expanding their criminal operations beyond drug trafficking.
• 🛢️ CJNG and the Gulf Cartel are involved in stealing crude oil from PEMEX and smuggling it across the Texas border.
• ⛏️ La Familia Michoacana has expanded into illegal mining and extortion of mining companies, while also smuggling weapons.
• 💰 The Sinaloa Cartel profits from extortion, wildlife trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering through US-based front businesses.
• 🌍 Cartel resilience is increased by these diverse criminal enterprises, making them harder to dismantle and protecting their core drug operations like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Potential Cartel Power Shift

• 🤝 A new alliance between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the sons of El Chapo (Los Chapitos) is being reported by the DEA.
• ⚔️ This potential alliance aims to capitalize on the ongoing Sinaloa Cartel civil war between factions loyal to El Chapo's sons and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.
• 🎯 An alliance could allow CJNG to expand its territory, resources, and firepower, significantly disrupting the current criminal power balance in Mexico.

Implications of Shifting Alliances

• ⚖️ The timing of this potential alliance is significant, as El Chapo's family members recently surrendered to US federal officials.
• 🗣️ This surrender, particularly of Ovidio Guzman, could lead to cooperation with the US government and revelations about the Sinaloa Cartel's inner workings.
• 🌐 The evolving dynamics highlight the complex and fluid nature of cartel operations and their global reach.