Browsing: Cartel Conflict

Mutilated remains were found inside a suitcase in Villa Unión alongside a threatening message directed at René Bastidas Mercado, “El 00.”

Mexico is no longer just a patchwork of rival cartels — it’s two criminal federations competing for the country. La Nueva Federación and La Alianza del Pacífico now operate like rival economies. The alliances are unofficial, but real. What follows is a breakdown of who’s in, what it means, and what comes next.

An alliance shattered. Los Cazadores and Los Salazar — once allies — are now locked in a bloody feud across northern Sonora. Betrayals, disappearances, and a war pact with Los Deltas have redrawn the battle lines. In the desert, loyalties shift fast — and the price is always blood.