What are the biggest cartels in the US?

  • Sinaloa cartel is one of the biggest in the world
  • Its former leader was 'El Chapo'
  • Jalisco New Generation cartel is another of the largest

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(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump has committed to going to war with Mexican drug cartels and is reportedly considering a drone strike.

According to NBC News, the president is mulling over an attack against the cartels to combat drug trafficking into the U.S.

Last month, Bill O’Reilly told NewsNation’s “On Balance” that he expected Trump to carry out a weaponized drone attack should cartels not end their operations in the U.S.

Here, NewsNation outlines some of the foremost cartels with ties to the U.S.

Sinaloa cartel

Arguably the most far-reaching of its kind from Mexico, the Sinaloa cartel was formerly led by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who now resides in prison at ADX Florence, Colorado, where he is serving a life sentence.

On March 31, the United States Treasury sanctioned six people and seven companies for alleged money laundering for factions of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.

It followed a collaborative investigation between U.S. and Mexican government agencies.

The Sinaloa cartel and seven other criminal groups across Latin America were designated as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations” by President Trump after his return to office.

This week, a longtime fugitive and associate of El Chapo was caught by Mexican special forces commandos in Mexico City.

Per a 2015 DEA Intelligence Report on Mexican transnational crime organizations, the Sinaloa cartel had the largest presence of any Mexican criminal organization in the U.S.

Jalisco New Generation cartel

Based in Jalisco, Mexico, the Jalisco New Generation cartel (JNGC) is one of the transnational crime organizations designated as a foreign terrorist group.

Its leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, is one of the most wanted men in the U.S. and Mexico.

According to the Department of State, JNGC has a sprawling influence across Mexico, the U.S. and other parts of the world, spreading as far as Australia.

It is known to traffic fentanyl into the U.S. and use violence, extortion and other illegal methods, including drone attacks.

Los Zetas

Los Zetas is another powerful Mexican cartel based in the country’s northeast and often exerts criminal influence among Mexican government officials.

They also engage in drug trafficking, violence and extortion.

Two high-ranking members of Los Zetas were among 29 cartel leaders extradited to the United States in late February.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cartels

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