The publication
Are There Cartels in North Carolina? CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel, 9 Cartel-Linked Federal Cases and Evidence (2026)
Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in North Carolina, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest North Carolina 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 North Carolina-specific evidence: CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel
- Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 14 (12 sentenced, 1 indicted, 1 pleaded guilty)
- Cities in those cases: Charlotte, Raleigh, Charlotte, North Carolina, New Bern, Greensboro, Morrisville
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name North Carolina 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 North Carolina
- CJNG (Congressional Research Service, Charlotte, 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]
Named in multi-state or national actions that include North Carolina
These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show North Carolina was among the places named, not that a group has an established presence here.
- Tren de Aragua (news report, as of 2026): “Operation spanned South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Nebraska” [Republican Nation · news/research]
- MS-13 (federal court case, as of 2026): “leaders of the Hollywood Locos Salvatrucha clique, which operated in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere” [ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), 2026-02-24 · official record]
Federal cases in North Carolina (since Jan 2024)
| Date | City | Charges | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | Charlotte | conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine; distribution of crystal methamphetamine; possession with intent to di No cartel named in the release |
Indicted | HSI |
| 2026-09-08 | Raleigh | conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-tr No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 35 years in federal prison |
FBI |
| 2026-08-27 | Raleigh | conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 15 years in federal prison |
ATF |
| 2026-08-18 | Charlotte, North Carolina | No cartel named in the release | Sentenced | OPA |
| 2026-08-12 | Charlotte | knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl and cocaine as an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 12 years in prison |
DEA |
| 2026-07-15 | New Bern | conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth; possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth; po No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced Chaidez: 30 years in federal prison; Darden: 3 years and 4 m |
HSI |
| 2026-07-07 | Charlotte | conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 188 months in prison; removal from the United States after r |
HSI |
| 2026-06-03 | Charlotte | conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine as leader of the local cell of a DTO with ties to CJNG Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 262 months in prison |
HSI |
| 2026-05-01 | Greensboro | conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride; conspiracy to commit money laundering; high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member designa Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 336 months for drug conspiracy; concurrent 240 months for mo |
USPIS |
| 2026-04-23 | Charlotte | conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine; distribution of methamphetamine (Sandoval-Ocam Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced Sandoval-Ocampo: 150 months in prison + 5 years supervised r |
HSI |
| 2026-04-09 | Charlotte | conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine by a local trafficking organization connected to CJNG Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 140 months (Lorenzo Lemus-Orozco); 70 months (Jesus Miguel A |
ATF |
| 2025-11-17 | Morrisville | methamphetamine and drug distribution/trafficking (pled guilty Sept. 30, 2024); operating a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 20 years in federal prison |
DEA |
| 2025-06-27 | Raleigh | conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400+ grams of fentanyl and 5+ kilograms of cocaine Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced 24 years in prison |
HSI |
| 2024-11-22 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Release names: CJNG | Pleaded guilty | USAO-EDNC |
Our North Carolina coverage
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.