Mica for cartelinsider.com
The elections of next June 2nd are getting closer and with it comes not only the change of the Head of the Executive, but also of thousands of local positions and nine governorships. These are Chiapas, Mexico City, Veracruz, Yucatan, Tabasco, Puebla, Morelos, Guanajuato and Jalisco. In this regard, it is worth noting that several experts and organizations have warned about the infiltration of organized crime in the electoral process at the state level, but which drug cartels are present in these entities?
According to documents from the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) and various investigations, all the states where Mexicans will have to choose a new governor have the presence of two or more national criminal organizations.
Among them, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho’, stands out, and has a presence in each of the nine states.
This information is in line with a recent report from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which indicates that the four-letter cartel has the largest presence in Mexico, with operations in 21 of the 32 states in the country.
However, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, and the breakaway factions of the Zetas also have a presence in more than one state.
In March 2023, Contralínea revealed that leaked documents from the Sedena (Mexican Secretariat of National Defense) revealed that two powerful criminal organizations operate in Chiapas: the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel). It was also warned about the presence of criminal cells from Guatemala and El Salvador, such as Los Huistas and Mara Salvatrucha.
In addition to the governorship, Chiapas will also renew 40 local legislative seats, 123 municipal presidencies, 123 syndicates, and 866 councilor positions.
In Guanajuato, the drug cartels with the most presence are the CJNG and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. However, there are small criminal groups that also dispute for territory, such as Los Durango, La Unión León, Nueva Plaza, and Gente Nueva Salazar – the armed branch of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Reports from Sedena (Mexican Army) state that the first two are prevalent in most municipalities, although they are concentrated in the southern region of the state. This year, there will also be new elections for 36 local representatives, 46 mayors, 52 syndicatures, and 418 councilors.
An article published by El Sol de Yucatán reports that there are four criminal groups present in this area of the country. These are the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG, the Gulf Cartel, and Los Pelones. This is because the region is profitable for business and money laundering.
In Yucatan, 35 local deputy positions, 106 municipal presidencies, 106 syndicates, and 587 councilorships will be renewed.
This is one of the entities with the highest number of criminal groups present in its territory. However, the Special Force Shadow Group (FEGS) – from the Gulf Cartel -, the Sinaloa Cartel, the CJNG, and Los Zetas stand out, through their splinter group Zetas Vieja Escuela.
According to the investigation, “The Presence of Organized Crime in Mexico” by AC Consultores, as of January 2023, the existence of seven criminal groups had been identified in Veracruz.
In Veracruz, 50 local deputy positions will also be elected.
Although Governor Carlos Manuel Merino Campos rejected the presence of drug cartels in Tabasco, a report from the Sedena distributed by Guacamaya Leaks revealed that three criminal organizations operate in this area: CJNG, Los Panteras, and the Northeast Cartel.
This year, 35 local deputy positions, 17 mayoralty seats, 17 syndicates, and 51 council seats will also be chosen in this state.
According to reports from the Sedena (Mexican Armed Forces), three main groups are operating in Puebla: the CJNG, the New Blood Zeta Cartel (from Los Zetas), and the local gang known as El Loco Téllez.
On the other hand, in Morelos, there is a record of activities from the CJNG and the Northeast Cartel, as well as from Guerreros Unidos.
In the first one, 41 local deputies, 217 municipal presidencies, 217 syndicates, and 1,818 council member positions will be renewed.
In the second, there are 20 local deputy positions, 33 municipal presidencies, 33 trade union offices, and 153 council positions.
Although it is the main stronghold of the CJNG, Jalisco is also an area of criminal operations for the Sinaloa Cartel and the Michoacan Family. Here, 38 local deputy positions, 125 municipal presidencies, 125 syndicatures, and 1,231 councilor positions will be chosen.
On the other hand, in the capital of the country, there is a significant presence of both national and local criminal groups, among which the CJNG, La Union Tepito, the Tláhuac Cartel, and the Sinaloa Cartel stand out.
In this area of the country, the renovation of 16 mayoral offices and 204 councilor positions stands out.
Thanks for reading!
Mica
Email: mica@cartelinsider.com
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