The publication
Are There Cartels in Arizona? Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, 2 Cartel-Linked Federal Cases and Evidence (2026)
Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in Arizona, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest Arizona coverage. Every item links to its source.
Cartels in the U.S.: map and all states · Mexico cartel map
At a glance
- Groups reported with Arizona-specific evidence: Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel)
- Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 34 (24 sentenced, 5 charged, 3 extradited, 1 convicted, 1 indicted)
- Cities in those cases: Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name Arizona or a city in it. It shows where groups have been reported, not how many people are involved.
- Multi-state actions (a national indictment or a multi-district operation) are listed separately and don’t count as evidence of presence in this state.
- Federal cases are Justice Department, U.S. Attorney, DEA, FBI and HSI announcements since January 2024. We name a cartel only when the release itself does; other cases are listed as drug-trafficking cases. Charged people are presumed innocent until convicted, so we don’t list defendants’ names here. Follow the link to read the release.
- What it doesn’t tell you: cartel activity in your neighborhood, or crime rates. It is a record of what officials and reporters have published.
Nationwide: the DEA’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment says associates, facilitators and affiliates of the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG operate in almost all 50 U.S. states. [Small Wars Journal (summary of DEA NDTA 2025), 2025-05-18 · news/research] The state-by-state evidence below goes further: named cities, federal cases and official reports.
Groups reported in Arizona
- Sinaloa Cartel (Congressional Research Service, Phoenix, as of 2024): “distribution hubs in cities that include Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- Tren de Aragua (news report, as of 2024) [The Star News Network, 2024-12-27 · news/research]
- Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel) (news report, Phoenix, as of 2026): “The two cities are El Paso and Phoenix.” [El Paso Herald Post, 2026-05-12 · news/research]
- Tren de Aragua (news report, Maricopa, as of 2026): “Investigators said Erazo-Zuniga is a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally. He has claimed affiliation with TdA and tried to extort money from his victims.” [Deported News · news/research]
- Sinaloa Cartel (federal court case, Tucson, as of 2026): “On Sep. 22, 2026, Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins sentenced Amanda Rachelle Miller, 35, of Tucson, to 204 months (17 years) in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs in Arizona.” [U.S. Department of Justice, 2026-09-22 · official record]
Named in multi-state or national actions that include Arizona
These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show Arizona was among the places named, not that a group has an established presence here.
- Sinaloa Cartel (news report, as of 2025): “He also said the alleged drug trafficking organization is 'one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in United States history' – spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Bondi said the organization is affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico. Drugs found in Albuquerque, Phoenix and Utah.” [Tri-City Record · news/research]
Federal cases in Arizona (since Jan 2024)
| Date | City | Charges | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-22 | Tucson | leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 204 months (17 years) in prison |
HSI |
| 2026-09-09 | Tucson | conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 60 months |
DEA |
| 2026-06-25 | Tucson | Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised re |
HSI |
| 2026-02-17 | Tucson | Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 90 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervi |
HSI |
| 2025-12-05 | Tucson | Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervi |
HSI |
| 2025-11-17 | Phoenix | conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine with intent to import into the United States; conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Convicted | DEA |
| 2025-09-25 | Phoenix | conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 180 months |
DEA |
| 2025-09-19 | Glendale | Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (federal criminal complaint) No cartel named in the release |
Charged charged by federal criminal complaint (10-year mandatory min |
DEA |
| 2025-06-06 | Phoenix | conspiring to distribute over 36 kilograms of fentanyl pills and over 9 kilograms of fentanyl powder No cartel named in the release |
Charged | DEA |
| 2025-05-16 | Tucson | conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 88 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised r |
HSI |
| 2025-05-06 | Tucson | Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl; Reentry of a Removed Alien (pleaded guilty) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 120 months in prison |
DEA |
| 2025-05-01 | Tucson | conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 60 months in prison |
DEA |
| 2025-04-24 | Tucson | possession with intent to distribute fentanyl (pleaded guilty) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 41 months in prison |
DEA |
| 2025-03-18 | Tucson | possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supe |
DEA |
| 2025-03-13 | Phoenix | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Charged | DEA |
| 2025-03-05 | Phoenix | secured from Mexico on February 27, 2025 and made initial appearance; charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspiracy to distribute and import methamphe No cartel named in the release |
Extradited n/a |
DOJ |
| 2025-03-05 | Phoenix | secured from Mexico on February 27, 2025 and made initial appearance; charged with conspiracy to distribute and import methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and co No cartel named in the release |
Extradited n/a |
DOJ |
| 2025-02-26 | Phoenix | conspiracy to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised re |
DEA |
| 2025-02-14 | Phoenix | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 151 months in prison, followed by three years supervised rel |
DEA |
| 2025-02-06 | Phoenix | possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Charged | DEA |
| 2025-01-24 | Tucson | alleged drug trafficking as coordinators and operators of a prolific transnational drug trafficking organization operating along the U.S.-Mexico border (indicte No cartel named in the release |
Indicted | DEA |
| 2024-12-03 | Phoenix | Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (head of drug trafficking organization) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 14 years (168 months) federal prison |
HSI |
| 2024-10-29 | Tucson | Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (seven-count indictment) No cartel named in the release |
Charged charged (indictment/complaint) |
DEA |
| 2024-07-19 | Tucson | Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 33 months federal prison + 60 months supervised release |
DEA |
| 2024-07-16 | Tucson | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentany No cartel named in the release |
Extradited | DEA |
| 2024-06-24 | Tucson | Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine; international money laundering No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 14 years (168 months) federal prison |
HSI |
| 2024-06-24 | Tucson | Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; methamphetamine and money-laundering conspiracies No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 180 months federal prison + 5 years supervised release |
HSI |
| 2024-06-06 | Tucson | Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 60 months federal prison |
HSI |
| 2024-05-24 | Phoenix | possession with intent to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 84 months in prison |
DEA |
| 2024-05-13 | Phoenix | Drug trafficking conspiracy (fentanyl and methamphetamine) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced Crosswell-Cervantes: 17 years (204 months); Castro-Ruiz: 11 |
HSI |
| 2024-04-12 | Phoenix | Bribery of a public official and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 18 years (216 months) federal prison + 5 years supervised re |
FBI |
| 2024-02-28 | Tucson | conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 120 months |
DEA |
| 2024-02-23 | Tucson | Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine; money-laundering conspiracy No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 63 months federal prison |
DEA |
| 2024-01-26 | Tucson | Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced Lagarda-Gil: 11 years + 5 years supervised release (plus for |
HSI |
Our Arizona coverage
- 82,785 U.S. Guns Traced in Mexico, $126 Million Spent — and Agencies Can’t Say What Works: GAO Flags Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, as Cartel Gun Sources Sep 30, 2026
- 10 Kilos of Fentanyl and 12 of Opium Gum in a Pickup’s Hidden Compartments: Mexican Troops Stop Nearly 100 Kilos of Drugs in San Luis Río Colorado, Across From San Luis, Arizona Sep 28, 2026
- 378 Cartel Drones Spotted at the Border in a Month: DHS Tells Cartels “Your Drones Are Failing” as Soldiers Test Drone-Catchers Near Yuma, Arizona Sep 26, 2026
- Tucson’s ‘Queen of the South,’ Who Claimed She Dreamed Up Rainbow Fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel, Gets 17 Years Sep 25, 2026
- 11,000 Pounds of Marijuana, 17 Years on the Run: Tucson Fugitive Jorge Lamadrid-Carranza Returned to Arizona From Playa del Carmen Sep 25, 2026
- 19 Years for Wichita Ringleader: 15 Sentenced in Sinaloa Cartel Pipeline That Ran Fentanyl and Meth From Phoenix to Kansas Sep 23, 2026
- Shootout in Rocky Point: Mexican Forces Free 3 Kidnapped Miners, Seize .50-Cal Machine Gun and 40+ Rifles Sep 22, 2026
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.