Mexican Drug Cartels: An Update

Since STRATFOR's December 2009 cartel report, the cartel landscape and operating environment in Mexico have seen significant shifts. These have included rifts within the Beltran Leyva Organization, a new tripartite alliance of drug gangs known as the New Federation facing off against Los Zetas and a further decline in the Juarez cartel. They also have included the increased targeting of U.S. interests in Mexico. Perhaps most notably, however, are Mexican federal legislative reforms limiting the use of the Mexican military in the fight against drug trafficking. Taken together, the changes mean more violence probably lies ahead.