Two Major Mexican Cartels Merge to Form ‘Mega-Cartel’

Two of the most violent cartels in Mexico appear to be joining forces to create a “mega-cartel.” The cartel merger could tip the balance of power in the ongoing Sinaloa Cartel civil war.

The two Narco-terrorist factions that make up the Sinaloa Cartel, the Chapitos and the Mayos, have been involved in a bloody war throughout Mexico for more than 200 days. The record levels of brutal violence in Sinaloa have not waned. It will likely increase to unprecedented levels due to what many consider a consequential reconfiguration of cartel alliances, namely the partnering of the Jalisco Nuevo Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. The two hyperviolent cartels operate and have a presence in all of Mexico as narco-terrorist criminal organizations. Both have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the Trump administration.

The intricate web of relations among the drug cartels is a fascinating study in and of itself. They can be at war in one entity but collaborate as allies concerning certain businesses, including money laundering, petroleum theft, and drug trafficking, among others. It’s interesting to note that in 2016, the current leaders of the Chapitos, Ivan and Jesus Alfredo Guzman, were abducted during a celebration at La Leche nightclub in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, by the CJNG cartel. Numerous news sources reported that the then-leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, reminded the CJNG leader, “El Mencho,” that he had a son and several family members he could reach. The message was taken, and Chapo’s sons were released quickly.

Last week, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released its annual National Drug Threat Assessment report for 2025. The DEA NDTA report recognizes an alliance between the CJNG and the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. If true, the recent partnership of CJNG and Chapitos against the Mayitos will invariably escalate violence within the Sinaloa Cartel. Many speculate that it could expand to an all-out civil war among the various cartels throughout Mexico.

The following is an excerpt from the DEA NDTA report:

According to Mexican news sources, CJNG could capitalize on the conflict between the Los Mayitos and Los Chapitos factions of the Sinaloa Cartel by choosing to side in favor of their former rivals, Los Chapitos. A strategic alliance between CJNG and Los Chapitos has the potential to expand these groups’ territories, resources, firepower, and access to corrupt officials, which could result in a significant disruption to the existing balance of criminal power in Mexico and could serve to increase northbound drug flow and southbound weapons trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border.