Despite crackdowns and leadership changes, the Gulf Cartel in Mexico remains a formidable force, with deep-rooted connections that allow it to adapt and survive.
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August 23, 2024 INSIDE THIS ARTICLE, YOU'LL FIND: |
The Gulf Cartel, based in northeast Mexico along the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the oldest and most notorious organized crime groups in the country. Originally a bootlegging operation, it has evolved into a powerful and ruthless criminal syndicate involved in drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and human smuggling. The cartel's influence extends across multiple states, including Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, and Veracruz, where its presence has significantly impacted the daily lives of locals and travelers alike.
Violence, corruption, and fear are pervasive in these regions, as the cartel's activities continue to challenge both local authorities and international efforts to curb crime in Mexico. Despite numerous crackdowns and leadership changes over the years, the Gulf Cartel remains a formidable force, with deep-rooted connections that allow it to adapt and survive in the face of ongoing government pressure.
Background of the Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel, or the Cártel del Golfo (CDG), originated in the 1930s in Tamaulipas, Mexico, was initially involved in bootlegging during the Prohibition era. It evolved into drug trafficking in the 1970s, smuggling marijuana and heroin into the United States. The cartel gained prominence under the leadership of Juan García Ábrego in the 1980s, who expanded CDG operations by forming alliances with Colombian drug traffickers.
Early Years and Evolution
The Gulf Cartel's early operations focused on smuggling drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border. In the 1990s, it became one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico, controlling significant drug trafficking routes. The cartel's influence waned after García Ábrego's arrest in 1996, but it restructured and continued operations under the leadership of the infamous Osiel Cardenas Guillen.
Modern Era: Splits and Rivalries
The Gulf Cartel has experienced numerous internal conflicts and splits, leading to rivalries with other criminal organizations, most notably Los Zetas. Originally brought in to be the cartel’s enforcement arm by Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the Zetas broke away in the late 2000s after Guillen’s arrest in 2003 by the FBI. This split resulted in violent confrontations across Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, and Veracruz. This split weakened the Gulf Cartel, leading to further arrests, violence, and fracturing into what remains today: location-based factions like Los Ciclones, Los Metros, Grupo Escorpiones, Los Dragones, and others.
In 2023, violence spiked across Tamaulipas, including in Reynosa due to a breakdown in the 2021 ceasefire agreements between various factions of the Gulf Cartel (CDG), including Grupo Escorpiones, Los Metros, Los Ciclones, and others operating in Reynosa and Rio Bravo. Skirmishes and large gun battles took place in San Fernando and Matamoros and areas between Reynosa and San Fernando. In October 2023, criminal groups clashed with security forces in Reynosa, setting up blockades in five locations across the city and engaging in shootouts with police. This type of violence can happen at any time in Reynosa, Matamoros, and other cartel strongholds in response to security personnel operations.
Such violence flared in January to February of 2024. For nearly two weeks starting on 23 January, Reynosa was engulfed in violent unrest, marked by sporadic shootouts and road blockades between security forces and local cartel members. Police sources confirmed that the first clashes began when a local group of gunmen, led by Carlos Humberto Acuña de los Santos, alias "El Mono," attacked a convoy of Tamaulipas State Police. Subsequently, security forces launched a large-scale operation to capture El Mono, who responded with further violence. El Mono, also known as "Comandante Mono," "M-36," and "Metro 36," leads Los Metros, the faction of the Gulf Cartel based in Reynosa.
Main Operations and Tactics of the Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel primarily engages in drug trafficking, focusing on cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine. It also participates in other criminal activities such as human trafficking, extortion, and fuel theft. The cartel operates mainly in northeastern Mexico, with key areas of influence in Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and Veracruz.
The Gulf Cartel employs violence, bribery, and corruption to maintain control over its territories. It has been known to infiltrate law enforcement and government institutions to protect its operations. The cartel uses sophisticated communication methods to coordinate its activities and avoid detection by authorities. It became one of the most violent cartels in Mexico when Cardenas Guillen took over as leader in 1996.
Risks to Travelers and Civilians
Regions under Gulf Cartel influence are often marked by high levels of violence and crime. Travelers to these areas should exercise extreme caution and consider security measures such as secure transportation and travel tracking services.
As is generally the case with cartels, the Gulf Cartel does not expressly look to harm or involve travelers or outsiders, namely American tourists, in their operations. In 2023, four Americans were victims of an armed abduction in the city of Matamoros and two of them were killed – however, a Gulf Cartel faction apologized for the incident in a letter, claiming to have handed over those responsible:
In its letter, the Gulf cartel said it respects the "life, tranquility and integrity of the innocent" and apologized to "the society of Matamoros ... the affected American individuals, and families."
"In addition the CDG asks society to remain calm because we are committed to ensure that these errors caused by indiscipline aren’t repeated. The guilty parties will pay, regardless of who they are," the letter reads.
This situation demonstrates, however, that travel to these areas, even as a civilian, can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. The U.S. State Department frequently issues travel advisories for states like Tamaulipas, advising against non-essential travel due to security concerns.
Of the states where the Gulf Cartel is most active, two states (Nuevo Leon and Veracruz) are under “Increased Caution” advisories, and one (Tamaulipas) is under a “Do Not Travel” advisory, as of August 2024.
Current Status and Future of the Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel — mainly meaning its existing factions — remains an active criminal organization in northeastern Mexico. Their operations are heavily influenced by internal divisions and rivalries among the factions.
- Los Metros: Los Metros, originally formed in Matamoros, now hold significant power in Reynosa and along the northern border of Tamaulipas. They have been central to the ongoing fragmentation of the Gulf Cartel, often clashing with rival factions. Despite internal and external pressures, Los Metros have maintained control over key areas, although they have faced recent violence from Los Ciclones and Grupo Escorpiones. In 2021, a truce was reportedly reached among these factions, but tensions remain high, especially with the Cartel del Noreste over control of territories between Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo.
- Los Ciclones: Based in Matamoros, Los Ciclones have been involved in a protracted conflict with Los Metros, particularly over control of the Reynosa area. They gain much of their influence from controlling the border crossing between Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas. Los Ciclones have also been engaged in a violent struggle with the Cartel del Noreste in various municipalities. Despite a period of relative quiet, they have resumed aggressive actions, including a notable attack in Reynosa in 2021, in alliance with Grupo Escorpiones.
- Grupo Escorpiones: Grupo Escorpiones, another faction of the Gulf Cartel, are known for their violent tactics and have historically served as an armed wing of the cartel. Based in Matamoros, they have joined forces with Los Ciclones to exert control over territories near the U.S. border. Their activities include drug trafficking and violent confrontations with law enforcement and rival groups. The faction has been involved in significant violent incidents, such as the massacre in Reynosa in 2021, which was a joint operation with Los Ciclones.
Outlook Going Forward
The Gulf Cartel's future is uncertain due to ongoing infighting and external pressures from law enforcement and rival cartels. The internal divisions among its factions, such as Los Metros, Los Ciclones, and Grupo Escorpiones, weaken its overall cohesion and operational capacity. Additionally, the cartel faces threats from external rivals like the Cartel del Noreste and potential incursions by the rivals Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG.
The Mexican government's efforts to crack down on organized crime, including recent arrests of key leaders, further complicate the cartel's operations. As these dynamics continue to evolve, the Gulf Cartel's ability to maintain its influence and control over drug trafficking routes will be tested.
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