COLUMNS

Tracking Mexico's Cartels in 2018

undefined and VP of Tactical Analysis
Scott Stewart
VP of Tactical Analysis, Stratfor

Feb 1, 2018 | 08:00 GMT

In the Tierra Caliente region, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion is the most powerful criminal group.

Many of the Mexican organizations involved in the methamphetamine and heroin trades are using their trafficking skills and connections to facilitate the fentanyl trade

(ROBERT ZAVALA/Stratfor, Sunflower/Shutterstock)

Highlights

  • Factional competition resulting from the breakup of large organized crime organizations continues to drive violence in Mexico.
  • The lucrative fentanyl trade, built on the backbone of methamphetamine and opiate smuggling networks, is furthering the expansion of criminal groups in Tierra Caliente.
  • While most cartel violence is directed at other cartels and the government, the widespread use of military-grade weapons raises the risk of collateral damage.

The turn of the year brings another periodic examination of the state of Mexico's criminal cartels. Shared from Threat Lens, Stratfor's unique protective intelligence product, the following column includes excerpts from a comprehensive forecast available to Threat Lens subscribers....

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