Foreign Criminal Groups Operate in Mexico in Alliance With Cartels

What other foreign criminal groups have a presence in Mexico in 2020? Since 2020, groups from at least 11 different countries have been present. 

According to security expert and researcher Victor Sánchez from the Autonomous University of Coahuila—in a study published in the journal *Nexos*—these criminals are present across all 32 of the country’s states. 

With the highest concentrations found in Mexico City, in the border region of Baja California, and in the tourist hub of Quintana Roo. 

He highlighted that their presence stems from business dealings with Mexican cartels. Some arrive while fleeing justice in their home countries, while others come to establish networks for defrauding and extorting migrants. 

My colleague Mario García spoke with the researcher, and here is what he explained regarding the significance of this information—specifically, the importance of knowing who these criminals operating within Mexico actually are:

 “Little attention is paid to the presence of mafias originating from abroad—or foreign criminals—who coexist or operate alongside local groups across Mexico’s various federal states. 

I believe the most significant finding of this text relates to the fact that all 32 of Mexico’s federal states—every single one—have recorded instances of a foreign criminal organization operating within their borders.” 

To combat these groups arriving from abroad, it is crucial to maintain a constant exchange of information with their countries of origin. Of course, the overall impact of these foreign mafias doesn’t compare to that of their Mexican counterparts. 

Typically, these arriving foreign mafias attempt to forge alliances with local groups; they tend to focus primarily on specific niches—that is to say, while the impact that groups like *Tren de Aragua* or *Mara Salvatrucha* have regarding the extortion of migrants is indeed significant, it’s largely confined to that specific population. 

Where do these criminal organizations have the greatest impact? Primarily in the realm of fraud—and this applies not only to the Colombian organizations I mentioned earlier but also, for instance, to those of Romanian origin.

Source: Milenio