The Mexican cartels are among the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in the world. Over the decades, they have evolved into sophisticated, violent, and highly organized groups that wield immense influence over Mexico’s political, social, and economic landscape. The rise of these drug cartels is not just a recent phenomenon; it is the result of historical factors, political corruption, economic conditions, and the lucrative drug trade that spans both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
To understand why the Mexican cartels are so powerful, we must explore the historical roots of these organizations, the role of the Mexican government, the impact of the U.S. demand for drugs, and the socioeconomic conditions that allowed the cartels to thrive.
Historical Roots of the Cartels
The roots of Mexican drug cartels can be traced back to the early 20th century, but their transformation into powerful criminal enterprises began in earnest in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, several key historical developments laid the groundwork for the rise of the cartels.
1. Prohibition Era and Early Smuggling Networks
The first significant phase in the development of Mexican drug trafficking organizations occurred during the Prohibition Era (1920–1933) in the United States. Mexican smugglers took advantage of the U.S. ban on alcohol to smuggle liquor into the U.S. through border towns like Tijuana and Juárez. This smuggling activity established early trafficking routes and a nascent infrastructure that would later be used for drug smuggling.
After the repeal of Prohibition, these networks did not disappear. Instead, they shifted their focus to other contraband, including marijuana and opium, both of which were grown in Mexico. By the mid-20th century, these illicit trade networks had solidified, laying the foundation for future drug trafficking operations.
2. The Guadalajara Cartel and the Rise of Drug Trafficking (1980s)
The 1980s marked a critical turning point in the rise of Mexican cartels with the emergence of the Guadalajara Cartel. Led by notorious figures such as Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, and Rafael Caro Quintero, the Guadalajara Cartel was one of the first Mexican organizations to control drug trafficking on a large scale.
Before the rise of Mexican cartels, Colombian cartels dominated the global cocaine trade. However, due to increased law enforcement pressure and military intervention in Colombia, Colombian cartels began to rely on Mexican traffickers to transport drugs into the United States. Mexican traffickers capitalized on their established smuggling routes and geographic proximity to the U.S. to act as middlemen, moving cocaine across the border.
The Guadalajara Cartel played a pivotal role in consolidating this power. They were responsible for managing the transportation of Colombian cocaine, while simultaneously expanding their own operations by cultivating marijuana and opium poppies in Mexico. By the mid-1980s, Mexican cartels had become indispensable to the global drug trade, cementing their role in the trafficking of illicit substances into the U.S.
3. The Fall of the Guadalajara Cartel and the Fragmentation of Power (1989-1990s)
In 1989, the Guadalajara Cartel was dismantled following the arrest of Félix Gallardo and the murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, which led to intense pressure from U.S. authorities. The downfall of the Guadalajara Cartel triggered a power vacuum and a subsequent fragmentation of power within Mexico’s criminal underworld. The cartel split into multiple factions, each led by former Guadalajara associates.
These splinter groups evolved into some of the most powerful cartels in Mexico, including:
- The Sinaloa Cartel (led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada)
- The Tijuana Cartel (led by the Arellano Félix family)
- The Juárez Cartel (led by Amado Carrillo Fuentes)
- The Gulf Cartel (in Tamaulipas)
This fragmentation led to turf wars and intense rivalries between these new cartels as they fought for control of smuggling routes, known as plazas, that led into the United States.
The U.S. Demand for Drugs: A Driving Force
One of the primary reasons for the immense power of Mexican cartels is the insatiable demand for illegal drugs in the United States. The U.S. has consistently been the largest consumer of illicit drugs, particularly cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin—all of which are trafficked by Mexican cartels.
1. Cocaine Trade
In the 1980s and 1990s, cocaine became the most lucrative drug trafficked by Mexican cartels. As Colombian cartels (such as the Medellín and Cali cartels) faced increased law enforcement pressure, they outsourced more of their operations to Mexican traffickers, who controlled vital land routes across the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexican cartels quickly dominated the cocaine trade, allowing them to amass enormous wealth and power.
2. Methamphetamine and Heroin Production
In addition to cocaine, Mexican cartels became key producers of methamphetamine and heroin. Mexico’s Golden Triangle (the mountainous regions of Sinaloa, Durango, and Chihuahua) became one of the world’s most prolific sources of opium poppies, which are used to produce heroin. The Sinaloa Cartel, in particular, gained control of heroin production and distribution in the U.S., especially in the wake of the U.S. opioid crisis.
Methamphetamine production also became a major source of revenue for the cartels. Meth is relatively easy to produce in clandestine laboratories, and Mexico’s cartels capitalized on this demand, shipping the drug into the U.S. in massive quantities.
3. The Role of NAFTA
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed in 1994, also played a role in facilitating cartel activity. While NAFTA was designed to increase legal trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, it also inadvertently created opportunities for cartels to smuggle drugs across borders by taking advantage of increased commercial traffic. The volume of trade between the U.S. and Mexico surged, overwhelming border security and allowing traffickers to conceal drugs in the flow of goods entering the U.S.
Corruption and Cartel Influence in Mexico
Corruption is a critical factor that has allowed the cartels to maintain and expand their power. The influence of cartels within Mexico’s government, law enforcement, and military has been well-documented over the years. Many cartels have managed to co-opt local, state, and federal officials, turning Mexico’s institutions into accomplices in their illicit activities.
1. Police and Military Corruption
Mexican police and military forces are frequently underpaid and under-resourced, which makes them susceptible to bribery. Cartels offer large sums of money in exchange for protection, information, or assistance. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as plata o plomo, meaning “silver or lead”—a choice between taking a bribe or facing violent retaliation. As a result, many law enforcement officers have become complicit in cartel activities, either through passive acceptance of bribes or active participation in criminal enterprises.
In some cases, entire police units have been infiltrated by the cartels, while military units have been used by criminal organizations to protect drug shipments. Cartels like the Zetas, originally founded by former military personnel, have even recruited members of the armed forces to use their expertise in weapons, tactics, and intelligence.
2. Political Corruption
Political corruption has also played a central role in the power of Mexican cartels. Many politicians, particularly at the local and state levels, have been found to be on the payroll of various cartels. Cartels often influence elections, either through bribing candidates or using violence to intimidate political opponents who refuse to cooperate.
At times, government officials have been forced to turn a blind eye to cartel activities in exchange for peace in their regions. In other cases, cartels have openly funded political campaigns, ensuring that once in power, these politicians would protect the interests of the cartel. This intertwining of politics and crime has allowed cartels to operate with impunity in certain areas of Mexico.
Economic Factors and Poverty
Another key factor contributing to the power of Mexican cartels is the widespread poverty and lack of economic opportunities in many regions of Mexico. For many people living in impoverished, rural areas, working for the cartels—whether through farming drugs like opium poppies or cannabis or becoming part of the cartel’s armed forces—offers a way to earn money and provide for their families.
1. Lack of Economic Alternatives
In areas where the government has failed to provide adequate infrastructure, education, and job opportunities, the cartels have stepped in as the employers of last resort. They offer high wages, especially to young men who are otherwise unemployed or stuck in low-paying jobs. These individuals often become hitmen, drug mules, or members of cartel militias, fueling the ongoing violence in Mexico.
2. Dependence on the Drug Economy
In certain regions, the local economy has become heavily dependent on the drug trade. Farmers in areas like the Sierra Madre Occidental grow opium poppies and marijuana because they yield more profit than legal crops like corn or beans. As a result, many communities are economically tied to the success of the cartels, which has further entrenched their power.
The War on Drugs and Cartel Violence
In 2006, Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared a full-scale War on Drugs, deploying the military to combat the cartels. This policy, however, led to a dramatic increase in violence, as the cartels responded by fighting back against both the Mexican government and rival organizations.
1. Militarization of the Drug War
Calderón’s strategy of using the military to combat the cartels initially seemed like a robust approach, but it resulted in an escalation of violence. The Zetas, originally a paramilitary group for the Gulf Cartel, began using advanced military tactics, weaponry, and brutal violence to fight government forces and rival cartels. Other cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, responded by adopting similar methods.
The militarization of the conflict, combined with poorly trained law enforcement, led to a humanitarian crisis. By 2021, more than 300,000 people had been killed in cartel-related violence, and over 80,000 were reported missing.
2. Fragmentation and Turf Wars
The crackdown on high-level cartel leaders led to the fragmentation of many cartels into smaller, more violent factions. These splinter groups have fought turf wars over control of key smuggling routes, exacerbating the violence in many regions. The rise of hyper-violent groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is a direct result of this fragmentation.
Conclusion: A Complex Power Structure
The immense power of the Mexican cartels is the result of historical, political, economic, and social factors that have accumulated over decades. The U.S. demand for drugs, corruption within Mexican institutions, poverty, and the failures of the War on Drugs have all contributed to the entrenchment of the cartels. As long as these factors remain unaddressed, the cartels will continue to wield significant influence, posing challenges not only to Mexico’s stability but also to international efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The future of Mexico’s battle with the cartels will depend on a combination of reform, economic development, and international cooperation. Without addressing the root causes of cartel power—poverty, corruption, and drug demand—the violence and instability that has plagued Mexico for decades is unlikely to subside.
