From drug cartels to extortion and kidnapping rings, the country’s organised criminal landscape remains one of the most pressing challenges for Mexico’s law enforcement agencies and citizens.
The Mexico Peace Index 2025 (MPI) details how organised crime has been a defining feature of Mexico’s security landscape for decades. The nation’s proximity to the world’s largest drug market in the US has made it a prime location for drug trafficking operations. Over the years, Mexico’s criminal landscape has evolved, with powerful cartels controlling the production, transport and distribution of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
In the past 20 years, organised crime in Mexico has intensified, with cartels not only trafficking drugs but also engaging in a wide array of other criminal activities. These include extortion, human trafficking, kidnapping, illegal logging and fuel theft. The proliferation of organised crime has been exacerbated by the involvement of Mexican cartels in the production of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, which has become a dominant force in the drug trade.
The Cartels: The Powerhouses of Organised Crime
At the heart of Mexico’s organised crime problem are the cartels, which have evolved from small drug smuggling organisations into sophisticated, multinational criminal enterprises. The Sinaloa Cartel, once led by the infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, is perhaps the most well-known, but it is by no means the only one. Other powerful cartels, such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Zetas, and the Gulf Cartel, control vast territories and criminal networks across the country.
The structure and influence of these cartels are vast and far-reaching. They not only control drug routes but also have a stronghold in many areas of Mexican society, including law enforcement, politics and business. Their financial power, which is derived from the production and trafficking of illicit goods, enables them to exert significant influence over local governments and authorities. In many regions, cartels have established themselves as the de facto rulers, operating their own courts and enforcing their own laws. They often engage in violent and coercive tactics to maintain control, including murder, intimidation, and kidnapping.
The rise of the CJNG in recent years has marked a new chapter in Mexico’s organised crime story. Known for its brutal tactics, the CJNG has rapidly expanded its operations throughout Mexico and beyond, taking control of drug trafficking routes and challenging other cartels for dominance. This cartel is responsible for a significant amount of violence in regions such as Jalisco, Guanajuato and Michoacán, where it has engaged in bloody turf wars with rival organisations. The increasing violence and territorial disputes have contributed to the escalating levels of insecurity throughout Mexico.
One of the most significant developments in Mexico’s organised crime landscape is the growing focus on synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl. This highly potent opioid has become a key player in the global drug trade, and Mexico has become the primary producer and supplier of fentanyl to the US market. The cartels’ ability to produce fentanyl in clandestine laboratories has dramatically changed the dynamics of drug trafficking.
Fentanyl’s rise can be attributed to its high potency and low production costs. Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, making it a highly profitable drug for cartels. Unlike plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin, fentanyl can be synthesised in small, portable laboratories, which means cartels can produce vast quantities of the drug in confined spaces. This has allowed the cartels to maximise profits while minimising risks associated with the transport of large volumes of illegal substances.
Fentanyl has had a significant impact on the US opioid crisis, with the drug being responsible for a significant proportion of overdose deaths. In Mexico, the increasing demand for fentanyl has led to a shift in cartel activities, with criminal organisations focusing more on producing synthetic drugs and less on traditional narcotics. This shift has contributed to the continued violence in regions where fentanyl production is rampant, as rival cartels vie for control of the lucrative trade.
The Role of Violence and Corruption
Violence is a central feature of Mexico’s organised criminal landscape. Cartels use violence as a tool to assert control, punish rivals, and intimidate the population. The use of firearms and high-powered weaponry has contributed to the sharp increase in violent crime across Mexico, with homicides reaching alarming levels in some regions. In 2024, the national homicide rate was 23.3 per 100,000 people, with many of these deaths linked to organised crime.
The violence is not only limited to drug-related disputes. Cartels engage in a wide range of criminal activities that generate additional sources of revenue, including extortion, kidnapping, and fuel theft. Businesses, both large and small, are often forced to pay “protection money” to cartels to avoid violent reprisals. This situation has created a pervasive climate of fear, where citizens feel compelled to comply with the demands of criminal organisations in order to protect themselves and their families.
Corruption plays a significant role in perpetuating the power of cartels. Many law enforcement agencies in Mexico are infiltrated by organised crime, making it difficult to combat the influence of cartels. Corruption at various levels of government has allowed cartels to operate with relative impunity, often receiving protection or even direct assistance from local authorities. This lack of accountability has undermined efforts to dismantle organised crime groups and restore order to affected regions.
The influence of organised crime extends beyond the realm of security. The cartels’ operations have a devastating effect on Mexico’s economy, particularly in areas where violence is most prevalent. The economic impact of organised crime is far-reaching, affecting everything from tourism to agriculture to manufacturing. In regions where cartels dominate, businesses often face extortion, and foreign investment is deterred by the threat of violence and instability.
Further, the social fabric of affected communities is torn apart by the constant threat of violence. Fear of cartel retribution has led to widespread displacement, with people fleeing their homes to escape the violence. The toll on mental health is also significant, as citizens live in constant fear of being caught in the crossfire of criminal activity. The disruption caused by organised crime has created long-lasting scars in communities, making it difficult for them to recover and rebuild.
Addressing Mexico’s organised crime problem requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond traditional law enforcement tactics. While security operations to dismantle cartels are necessary, there is a need for them to be coupled with efforts to address the root causes of organised crime, such as poverty, corruption, and lack of education.
Strengthening the judicial system, reducing corruption, and providing social programmes for vulnerable populations can help to undermine the power of criminal organisations. And international cooperation, particularly with the US, is essential in combating the cross-border nature of drug trafficking.
Mexico faces ongoing challenges to peace, largely driven by organised crime and underinvestment in security institutions. The 2025 Mexico Peace Index...
Violent criminal organisations in Mexico are largely fuelled and financed by drug trafficking, with most of the supply destined for the United States...
Identifying and measuring the factors that drive peace.
Identificación y medición de los factores que impulsan la paz
