The publication
Are There Cartels in Florida? Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13, 7 Cartel-Linked Federal Cases and Evidence (2026)
Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in Florida, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest Florida 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 Florida-specific evidence: Sinaloa Cartel, MS-13, CJNG
- Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 10 (3 indicted, 3 sentenced, 2 charged, 1 convicted, 1 extradited)
- Cities in those cases: Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name Florida 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 Florida
- MS-13 (federal court case, South Florida, as of 2025) [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- Sinaloa Cartel (federal court case, South Florida, as of 2026): “MIAMI – A federal jury has convicted two Orlando men for their roles in a Sinaloa Cartel-directed plot to steal 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, and drug proceeds from what they believed was a South Florida drug trafficker.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- MS-13 (federal court case, South Florida, as of 2026): “Tirado-Silva was a local MS-13 leader responsible for growing the gang in South Florida.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
Named in multi-state or national actions that include Florida
These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show Florida was among the places named, not that a group has an established presence here.
- Sinaloa Cartel (federal court case, as of 2026): “Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
Federal cases in Florida (since Jan 2024)
| Date | City | Charges | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-12 | Miami | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Convicted | USAO-SDFL |
| 2026-08-11 | Tampa | narcoterrorism, material support to terrorism, drug importation conspiracy, and firearms trafficking conspiracies; four CJNG members arrested in the Czech Repub Release names: CJNG |
Charged | DEA |
| 2026-08-11 | Narco-terrorism; Drug trafficking; Firearms trafficking Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Indicted | DEA | |
| 2026-02-24 | Miami | conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as a primary leader of the Sinaloa Cartel overseeing drug trafficking and money laundering; smuggled hundreds of Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Extradited | ATF |
| 2025-05-15 | Tampa | conspiracy; distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine; use of communication facilities in the commission of drug trafficking crimes Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Indicted | FBI |
| 2025-04-17 | Fort Lauderdale | conspiring to distribute large quantities of cocaine (Nov. 2023-Sept. 2024); distributing cocaine using an airplane with a U.S. citizen onboard No cartel named in the release |
Indicted | DEA |
| 2024-11-04 | Tampa | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine; 30 kg of cocaine transported from El Paso to Tampa at the direction of a Sinaloa Cartel Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced Anthony Carroll: 12 years 7 months (jury conviction April 9, |
DEA |
| 2024-10-24 | Tampa | Release not yet checked; no cartel label | Charged | DEA |
| 2024-05-16 | Miami | drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine for the Sinaloa Cartel Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced life (Apodaca-Alvarez, Roque Bustamante); 262 months (Grupee |
ATF |
| 2024-05-16 | Miami | drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced Apodaca-Alvarez: life; Roque Bustamante: life; Grupee: 262 m |
ATF |
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Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.