Gulf Cartel: The Rise, Fragmentation and Legacy of Mexico’s Cártel del Golfo

The Gulf Cartel, known in Spanish as Cártel del Golfo (CDG), is one of Mexico’s oldest organized-crime groups. Its origins date back to the 1930s, when the organization was initially involved in smuggling illicit goods across the Mexico–United States border. Its activities later expanded into international drug trafficking, particularly from the state of Tamaulipas toward the United States. Estado dos EUA

From smuggling network to major cartel

The organization expanded substantially during the 1970s under Juan García Ábrego, who became one of its most prominent leaders. U.S. authorities later identified García Ábrego as the first drug trafficker to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. He was arrested by Mexican authorities in 1996 and subsequently deported to the United States. Estado dos EUA

After his arrest, the organization went through a series of leadership changes. Osiel Cárdenas Guillén eventually became its leading figure. He was arrested in Mexico in 2003 and extradited to the United States in 2007. Estado dos EUA

The emergence of Los Zetas

One of the most important chapters in the Gulf Cartel's history was its relationship with Los Zetas.

Under Cárdenas Guillén, a group of former Mexican special-forces personnel was recruited to serve as an armed security force for the cartel. The group eventually developed into the organization known as Los Zetas. U.S. authorities later described the two organizations as operating together under the name "The Company." Departamento de Justiça

The relationship eventually collapsed. Los Zetas developed into an independent criminal organization, producing a major realignment of organized crime in northeastern Mexico.

Leadership changes and fragmentation

Following Cárdenas Guillén's arrest, Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sánchez, known as "El Coss," became a leading figure within the Gulf Cartel's structure. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Costilla-Sánchez later pleaded guilty to an international drug-trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and marijuana. Departamento de Justiça

Other figures associated with the organization were subsequently arrested, including Mario Cárdenas Guillén and Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén, among others. These arrests contributed to the weakening of the cartel's centralized leadership. Estado dos EUA

The Gulf Cartel today

The Gulf Cartel's modern structure differs substantially from the organization that operated under a more centralized leadership.

The DEA's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment states that the Gulf Cartel was no longer a unified organization as of 2025. The assessment identified Los Metros and Los Escorpiones as its two most powerful factions, with Los Ciclones also operating as a separate faction. These groups have competed for territory, trafficking routes and strategic locations in Tamaulipas. DEA

This fragmentation represents one of the most significant transformations in the organization's history. Rather than operating as a single centralized cartel, the Gulf Cartel has evolved into competing factions with different territorial interests and alliances.

A continuing focus for authorities

Despite the fragmentation of its traditional structure, U.S. and Mexican authorities continue to identify Gulf Cartel factions in investigations involving transnational drug trafficking.

In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that individuals associated with the Cártel del Golfo were among 29 defendants transferred into U.S. custody from Mexico to face federal charges. The cases involved allegations including drug trafficking, racketeering, firearms offenses, money laundering and other crimes. The charges represent allegations unless and until established in court. Departamento de Justiça

The Gulf Cartel's history therefore spans almost a century, from its origins as a border-smuggling organization to its emergence as a major transnational criminal network and, eventually, its fragmentation into competing factions.