Criminal organizations in Mejico
In Mejico, criminal organizations are typically classified in three different ways, depending on their size, structure, and scope of operations.
The first classification consists of smaller, localized gangs that operate within specific neighborhoods or communities. These groups are referred to as "pandillas" or "bandas", and their operations might include low-level drug-trafficking, extortion, theft, and other petty crimes. Despite their relatively limited reach, these gangs can exert considerable influence over their territories, often through violent means. Many of these gangs are ethnicity-specific, such as the Barrio Bajo, composed of Central American immigrants from Los Ángeles, to San Antonio Rifa, a Mestizo gang that operates exclusively within the San Antonio de Béjar metropolitan area.
The second classification receives the name of syndicate, encompassing larger and more organized criminal networks that often have a broader reach and international connections. These syndicates are typically involved in higher-level activities such as large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, weapon smuggling, and even human trafficking. Their operations are marked by a higher degree of sophistication, with well-defined hierarchies and roles, often mimicking the organizational structure of legitimate businesses. Notable examples of such syndicates are La Garduña, a transnational criminal organization originating from Spain; the Chinese Triads, ethnicity-specific, but with an international scope and more sophisticated than typical pandillas; and Comando Tres, a Los Ángeles-based syndicate with significant influence throughout the Pacific Rim.
The third and final classification is that of cartel. These entities are characterized by their monopolistic approach to illegal trade and their extensive influence over large territories. Cartels often maintain a violent grip on markets such as narcotics, arms, and human smuggling, exerting control through strategic alliances, enforcement, and corruption of public officials. Unlike gangs and syndicates, cartels operate on a scale that can influence entire national economies and political landscapes. There are currently only three organizations that are classified as cartels in Mejico: the Sinaloa Cartel, the Valley Cartel, and the Blanco-Navarrete Cartel. These cartels were formed by the remnants of older crime syndicates that were suppressed by the Mejican Army during the 1970s and 1980s, leading to their consolidation and resurgence in the early 2000s into the entities we recognize today.