The publication
Are There Cartels in Georgia? Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, 10 Cartel-Linked Federal Cases and Evidence (2026)
Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in Georgia, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest Georgia 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 Georgia-specific evidence: Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Beltrán Leyva Organization, Cárteles Unidos
- Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 17 (8 sentenced, 4 charged, 3 indicted, 1 convicted, 1 extradited)
- Cities in those cases: Atlanta, Athens, Albany, Valdosta, Columbus, Macon
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name Georgia 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 Georgia
- Sinaloa Cartel (Congressional Research Service, Atlanta, as of 2024): “distribution hubs in cities that include Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- CJNG (Congressional Research Service, Atlanta, as of 2024): “The Jalisco Cartel maintains illicit drug distribution hubs in Los Angeles, Seattle, Charlotte, Chicago, and Atlanta.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- Beltrán Leyva Organization (federal court case, Atlanta, as of 2026): “moved up to 300 kilograms of cocaine per week to Atlanta, Memphis, and other cities” [U.S. Department of Justice (NDGA) · official record]
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana (federal court case, Atlanta, as of 2025) [U.S. Department of Justice, 2025-04-15 · official record]
- Cárteles Unidos (news report, Atlanta, as of 2026): “a larger interdiction of over 950 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl outside of Atlanta” [The Star News Network, 2026-07-03 · news/research]
Named in multi-state or national actions that include Georgia
These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show Georgia was among the places named, not that a group has an established presence here.
- Cártel del Noreste (DEA threat assessment, as of 2025): “CDN associates, facilitators, and affiliates operate throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Georgia, as well as in the upper Midwest.” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- Tren de Aragua (news report, as of 2026): “Operation spanned South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Nebraska” [Republican Nation · news/research]
- 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 Georgia (since Jan 2024)
| Date | City | Charges | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-09 | Atlanta | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering as lieutenant for Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartel network Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 18 years, 10 months in prison |
DEA |
| 2026-07-08 | Athens | conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; distribution of fentanyl; distribution of methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine on premises where a p No cartel named in the release |
Convicted | FBI |
| 2026-05-13 | Valdosta | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Indicted | HSI |
| 2026-05-06 | Columbus | drug conspiracy tied to an armed trafficking organization linked to two Mexican cartels including Sinaloa Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 135 months in prison (lead cartel-linked defendant) |
FBI |
| 2026-03-09 | Macon | distribution of methamphetamine as a Sinaloa Cartel operative in a multi-state trafficking organization Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 188 months in prison |
FBI |
| 2026-01-22 | Atlanta | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in a CJNG-supplied organization; firearm offenses Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 40 years in prison (Daniels) |
DEA |
| 2026-01-22 | Atlanta, Georgia | Release names: CJNG | Sentenced | USAO-NDGA |
| 2026-01-08 | Atlanta | conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Extradited | DEA |
| 2026-01-08 | Atlanta | conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Charged | DEA |
| 2025-10-07 | Albany | possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 360 months (30 years) in prison, followed by ten years of su |
DEA |
| 2025-08-26 | Athens | conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine (400g+ fentanyl, 50g+ meth, 5kg+ cocaine) No cartel named in the release |
Indicted | FBI |
| 2025-07-25 | Atlanta | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine as a mid-level member of La Nueva Familia Michoacana Release names: La Nueva Familia Michoacana |
Sentenced ten years in prison |
DEA |
| 2025-06-05 | Albany | No cartel named in the release | Sentenced | USAO-Middle District of Georgia |
| 2025-04-16 | Atlanta | conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl for import into the U.S.; conspiracy to import controlled substances; co Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Indicted | DEA |
| 2025-04-15 | Atlanta | conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, importation conspiracy, money laundering and unlicensed money services Release names: La Nueva Familia Michoacana |
Charged | DEA |
| 2025-04-15 | Atlanta | Release names: CJNG | Charged | USAO-NDGA |
| 2024-06-20 | Atlanta | Release names: La Nueva Familia Michoacana | Charged | USAO-NDGA |
Our Georgia coverage
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.