Cartels/Gangs Listed As Terror Organizations

Happy hunting my brothers and sisters. It's about to get spicy for the cartels.

I know I haven’t written here in awhile, but it's worthwhile noting that the following criminal organizations are now listed as terror groups:

1. Sinaloa Cartel (Mexico): Established in the 1970s, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico's oldest and most influential criminal organizations. Based in the mountainous regions of Sinaloa, it controls significant portions of the western U.S.-Mexico border. The cartel is heavily involved in drug trafficking, including the production and smuggling of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for numerous overdose deaths in the U.S. The recent arrest of its leader, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has led to internal power struggles.

2. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) (Mexico): Emerging in 2011, CJNG is known for its rapid expansion and extreme violence. Based in Jalisco, this cartel has attacked Mexican authorities using tactics like explosive-laden drones. Under the leadership of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, CJNG distributes large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl across all 50 U.S. states

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3. Gulf Cartel and Northeast Cartel (Mexico): Operating along the eastern U.S.-Mexico border, these cartels engage in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and arms trading. The Gulf Cartel has a long history but has fragmented recently, leading to violent clashes. The Northeast Cartel, a splinter group from the Zetas, maintains control over areas like Nuevo Laredo, a major commercial port.

4. La Nueva Familia Michoacana and United Cartels (Mexico): These groups operate in west-central Mexico, focusing on synthetic drug production. They've also infiltrated the lucrative avocado industry, exerting control through extortion and threats, which has even impacted U.S. inspectors working in the region.

5. Tren de Aragua (Venezuela): Originating from a Venezuelan prison over a decade ago, Tren de Aragua has expanded its operations across South America and into the U.S. The group is involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and forced labor, often employing extreme violence to instill fear.

6. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) (El Salvador): Founded in Los Angeles during the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants, MS-13 is notorious for its brutal violence and street-level drug sales. Deported members established a strong presence in El Salvador, leading to widespread corruption and territorial control. Recent crackdowns in El Salvador have weakened the gang, but its influence persists in various U.S. cities.

Reconnaissance Aircraft Flying Along Gulf of California

The designation of these organizations as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) by the U.S. government has significant implications. It becomes illegal for individuals in the U.S. to provide support to these groups, and their members are barred from entering the country. Financial institutions are required to freeze assets associated with these organizations. This classification also opens avenues for enhanced law enforcement actions, including potential military interventions. While the use of drone strikes is typically associated with counterterrorism efforts against groups like ISIS or al-Qaida, the FTO designation could theoretically extend such measures to these cartels, though this would involve complex legal and diplomatic considerations.

An RC135 Rivet Joint flying through the Gulf of California.

In response to these designations, there has been an uptick in U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions near Mexico. Notably, the U.S. Air Force has deployed RC-135V Rivet Joint aircraft over the Gulf of California. These aircraft are equipped to collect signals intelligence, intercepting communications and electronic emissions to gather actionable data on cartel activities. Such operations represent a strategic shift, utilizing advanced military assets to monitor and counteract the influence of these newly designated terrorist organizations.

The RC-135V Rivet Joint is a reconnaissance aircraft designed to support theater and national-level intelligence consumers with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination capabilities. Its deployment in regions like the Gulf of California underscores the U.S. commitment to addressing the threats posed by these cartels through enhanced surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts.

I’m not going to lie… This almost makes me want to come back to watch the show. I can’t wait to see what happens next.