Drug cartels

So far, federal and state forces have arrested nine people linked to Carlos Manzo's assassination and opened legal proceedings against them, while another suspect remains at large.

According to the report, the extraditions were coldly calculated and planned by the Mexican government to avoid any setbacks. Prisoners had no idea where they were being sent, and the mission was carried out with the help of 2,000 Mexican special forces.

Mexican drug cartels prey on vulnerable teenagers through the virtual world, luring them with fake job offers and promises of joining groups that could improve their quality of life.

During the hearing, Guzmán López also admitted for the first time that he lured Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada into his own kidnapping by claiming he needed help settling a dispute.

According to recent reports, search groups in the state of Jalisco have found hundreds of bags containing human remains near Akron Stadium, home of Chivas de Guadalajara, one of the country's most prominent soccer teams.

A new report by Milenio, based on a judicial file obtained by the outlet, details how the cartel built a wide network of local distributors in Houston in only six years, a structure that turned the city into a major drug distribution hub for five U.S. states.

Both were discovered on the Uruapan-Paracho highway in the municipality of Capácuaro on Nov. 11, eight days after authorities identified Víctor Manuel Ubaldo Vidales as the main suspect in the killing.

Nearly a week after Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, was killed during a Day of the Dead event, state authorities confirmed that the murder was carried out by a young man who worked for the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts defended ongoing U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, citing alleged ties between narcotraffickers and Venezuela's armed forces.

Since Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla took office in October 2021, seven mayors in Michoacán have been assassinated and one elected official remains missing since 2021.

President Sheinbaum stressed that violence should not be answered with more violence and said that actions must remain within the law.

Leonardo Arturo Leyva Ávalos' background as a public official also points to ties with La Barredora, a group that began as a Jalisco cartel cell dedicated to fuel theft.

The report found that most victims were young people from low-income or vulnerable communities and that they were arbitrarily killed or disappeared by federal, state or municipal authorities.

The arrest of Martín de Jesús "N" is the second this month by federal forces targeting members of Los Gigios. Earlier in October, authorities captured the Nogales plaza boss for La Mayiza, a Sinaloa Cartel faction loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Mexico ranks 121 out of 180 countries, making it the most dangerous country for journalists in Latin America.

Heavy losses and La Mayiza's rising dominance have sparked a wave of defections from Los Chapitos, with several operators switching allegiances to join the faction led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, alias " Mayito Flaco."

The Los Chapitos–CJNG alliance holds central and northwestern coastal areas of Sinaloa, while in the south, including Mazatlán, both factions continue to contest territories.

For many years, the Cabrera Sarabia family worked alongside the Sinaloa Cartel, but their direct connection to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada strengthened after the arrest and extradition of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Residents of jailed drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's hometown are fleeing after a series of attacks using drones carrying explosives.

With a growing need to fill secondary roles such as logistics, storage, drug processing and the management of local operations, criminal groups increasingly turned to women.

Despite being nearly 140 miles south of where the conflict began, Mazatlán has seen a significant rise in homicides and kidnappings compared with last year, severely impacting the local economy.

According to Mexican media, Francisco Ernesto Félix Romero was involved in both drug smuggling and human trafficking operations into the U.S., taking advantage of Nogales's strategic location along the border.

According to the outlet, Ramírez financed the event just days before being arrested by federal authorities in Jalisco on charges related to extortion and drug trafficking.

A multi-agency operation resulted in the seizure of more than 500 kilograms and 130 liters of methamphetamine, along with thousands of fentanyl pills recovered at multiple sites in the state of Sinaloa.

President Donald Trump likened transnational drug cartels to ISIS and vowed to "eliminate the cartel presence in America once and for all."

According to an expert, in recent years more than 30,000 minors ages 13 to 17 have been recruited by criminal organizations across Mexico.

Many of the municipalities hit the hardest by devastating floods lie within territories where violent clashes are common, as rival criminal groups continue fighting in the region.

Despite rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Mexican officials say they do not believe their country faces a similar risk of U.S. military action, at least for now.

As communities work to recover from devastating floods, a recent report reveals how drug cartels are taking advantage of the crisis to expand their control and win support in the hardest-hit areas.

Cartel operatives are reportedly exploiting Ukraine's limited vetting of foreign recruits, where background checks are rare and credentials often go unverified, allowing individuals with criminal ties to enlist with minimal oversight.