15 Biggest Drug Cartels in the World

2. Gulf Cartel

The Gulf Cartel, a drug cartel situated in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was established in the 1930s under the leadership of Juan Nepomuceno Guerra. The Gulf Cartel also referred to as Cártel del Golfo, is a criminal syndicate and drug trafficking organization operating in Mexico. It is possibly one of the oldest organized crime groups in the country. Presently, the Gulf Cartel is headquartered in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, situated directly across the U.S. border from Brownsville, Texas. The cartel’s network extends internationally and is believed to maintain connections with criminal groups in various regions including Europe, West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the United States. In addition to drug trafficking, the Gulf Cartel engages in activities such as protection rackets, assassinations, extortions, kidnappings, and other criminal endeavors. The members of the Gulf Cartel are notorious for intimidating the population and displaying a high degree of violence.

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