Gulf cartel

Definition/Scope: The Gulf Cartel is a Mexican drug trafficking organization based in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. It is believed to currently be the largest drug cartel in Mexico and is responsible for a considerable amount of illegal cocaine traffic across the Mexican border to major cities in the United States. Its chief rival is the Sinaloa Cartel. The group is known for its violent methods and intimidation and is thought to be working closely with corrupt law officials and businesspeople in Mexico. The Gulf cartel is present in 13 states with important areas of operation in the cities of Nuevo Laredo, Miguel Alemán, Reynosa, and Matamoros in the northern state of Tamaulipas. The Gulf cartel also has important operations in Monterrey in Nuevo León; and Morelia in Michoacán. The Gulf Cartel is responsible for the transportation of multi-ton quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana from Colombia, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico to the United States, as well as the distribution of those narcotics within the United States. The Gulf Cartel is also believed to be responsible for laundering multiple millions of dollars in criminal proceeds.

Broader Terms:

Army National Guard
DOJ
drug cartel
Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Trafficking Organizations
National Drug Control Strategy
National Drug Intelligence Center

Narrower Terms:

counterdrug intelligence
counterdrug operation
drug abuse
drug dealing
drug smuggling
illicit drug trade

Related Terms:

Arizona
corruption
Department of Homeland Security
Federation cartel
Juarez cartel
Los Zetas
narcotics smuggling
national security
Osiel Cardenas-Guillen
Sinaloa Cartel
Sonora Cartel
terrorism
Tijuana cartel