The publication
Are There Cartels in Texas? CJNG, Cártel del Noreste, 31 Cartel-Linked Federal Cases and Evidence (2026)
Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in Texas, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest Texas 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 Texas-specific evidence: CJNG, Cártel del Noreste, Gulf Cartel, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Juárez Cartel, Beltrán Leyva Organization, Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel), Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, Los Zetas
- Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 61 (40 sentenced, 5 convicted, 5 charged, 5 extradited, 4 pleaded guilty, 2 indicted)
- Cities in those cases: Laredo, Brownsville, McAllen, El Paso, Houston, Corpus Christi
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name Texas 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 Texas
- Gulf Cartel (federal court case, as of 2026): “Illegal alien charged with providing material support to Gulf Cartel — a foreign terrorist organization” [U.S. Department of Justice (SDTX) · official record]
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana (DEA threat assessment, Dallas, as of 2025): “LNFM traffics this methamphetamine mostly to the Dallas, Texas area – their primary U.S. market” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- Juárez Cartel (official statement, El Paso, as of 2026): “targets of ICE El Paso investigation into foreign terrorist organizations” [ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) · official record]
- Beltrán Leyva Organization (official statement, as of 2026): “the former Beltrán-Leyva Organization” [ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) · official record]
- Cártel del Noreste (DEA threat assessment, San Antonio, as of 2025): “distribution hubs in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- Cártel del Noreste (DEA threat assessment, Austin, as of 2025): “distribution hubs in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- Gulf Cartel (DEA threat assessment, Rio Grande Valley, as of 2025): “controls significant drug trafficking routes into the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- Gulf Cartel (DEA threat assessment, Brownsville, as of 2025): “throughout the Brownsville, Texas area” [Small Wars Journal, 2025-05-18 · news/research]
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana (federal court case) [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel) (news report, El Paso, as of 2026): “The two cities are El Paso and Phoenix.” [El Paso Herald Post, 2026-05-12 · news/research]
- CJNG (news report, El Paso, as of 2025): “Investigators noted the tunnel was linked to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) to facilitate cross-border smuggling of humans, drugs, and firearms. Federal law enforcement first found the sophisticated tunnel running between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso in January 2025.” [FOX 7 Austin · news/research]
Named in multi-state or national actions that include Texas
These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show Texas 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 (federal court case, as of 2026): “indictments across five U.S. Attorney offices, including the District of Colorado, District of Nebraska, District of New Mexico” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- MS-13 (federal court case, as of 2024): “operates throughout North and Central America, including in El Salvador, Mexico, New York, California, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina” [ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) · official record]
- Tren de Aragua (federal court case, as of 2025): “A six-count superseding indictment has been unsealed charging four Venezuelan nationals, including multiple alleged high-ranking members of TdA, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA, and for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
- Sinaloa Cartel (Treasury sanctions, as of 2026): “As a cell leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Gonzalez Penuelas operates primarily in Sinaloa, Mexico with U.S.-based distribution cells in California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Nevada.” [U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2026-05-20 · official record]
Federal cases in Texas (since Jan 2024)
| Date | City | Charges | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | Laredo | distributing fentanyl and heroin (drug trafficking conspiracy; pleaded guilty) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 18 months in federal prison (Freddy Serano); 48 months (Mari |
DEA |
| 2026-09-29 | Brownsville | possession with intent to deliver cocaine; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 125 months |
DEA |
| 2026-09-28 | Del Rio | conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, as member of the CJNG-linked Guzman transnational criminal organization Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 35 years in prison, consecutive to a 140-month drug traffick |
HSI |
| 2026-09-19 | McAllen | drug trafficking (cocaine) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 210 months |
HSI |
| 2026-09-19 | Brownsville | trafficking methamphetamine and heroin No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 72 months |
HSI |
| 2026-09-18 | Brownsville | possession with intent to deliver cocaine (pleaded guilty July 2, 2025) No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supe |
HSI |
| 2026-09-18 | Brownsville | receiving, concealing, buying, selling and facilitating transportation, concealment and sale of firearms and ammunition magazines prior to exportation No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 46 months |
HSI |
| 2026-09-17 | Sherman | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 262 months (Esquivias); 120 months (Perez) |
FBI |
| 2026-09-07 | McAllen | possession with intent to distribute cocaine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 120 months |
DEA |
| 2026-08-27 | El Paso, Texas | Release names: CJNG | Convicted | OPA |
| 2026-07-15 | Laredo | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl (pleaded guilty Jan. 6); alien smuggling tied to Cártel del Noreste Release names: Cártel del Noreste |
Sentenced 135 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supe |
HSI |
| 2026-07-10 | McAllen | providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization Release names: Gulf Cartel |
Charged | FBI |
| 2026-06-22 | Eagle Pass | conspiracy to commit hostage taking; conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, as leaders/organizers of a CJNG-linked alien smuggling organizat Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced life in prison; 405 months (33 years 9 months) in prison |
IRS |
| 2026-06-17 | Corpus Christi | conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as head of a drug trafficking organization sourcing from cartels in Mexico (pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2 No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 201 months in federal prison |
HSI |
| 2026-05-04 | Del Rio | Release names: La Nueva Familia Michoacana | Convicted | USAO Western District of Texas |
| 2026-04-29 | El Paso | possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 262 months |
FBI |
| 2026-04-17 | Victoria | conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl Release names: Sinaloa Cartel |
Sentenced life in federal prison |
Release |
| 2026-04-14 | Los Indios | conspiracy to fix prices and monopolize the transmigrante forwarding agency market; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion; money laundering conspir No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 11 years in prison and $2 million fine |
FBI |
| 2026-04-08 | Laredo | Release names: Cártel del Noreste | Sentenced | USAO-Southern District of Texas |
| 2026-03-09 | Laredo | Release names: Cártel del Noreste | Sentenced | USAO-Southern District of Texas |
| 2026-02-19 | Corpus Christi | conspiracy to straw purchase a firearm for a Mexican drug trafficking organization Release names: Gulf Cartel |
Convicted | ATF |
| 2026-02-18 | Corpus Christi | conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as a leader in a multi-state drug trafficking organization moving drugs from Mexican cartels (pleaded No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 234 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supe |
HSI |
| 2026-02-12 | McAllen | possession with intent to distribute fentanyl No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 70 months |
DEA |
| 2026-01-20 | Brownsville | drug trafficking conspiracy for importing large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine as a former high-ranking member of Cartel del Golfo Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Extradited | DEA |
| 2026-01-20 | McAllen | engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and drug trafficking as a Zeta Regional Commander and Plaza Boss controlling narcotics movement in the Falcon Lake Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Extradited | DEA |
| 2026-01-20 | El Paso | drug trafficking, kidnappings, assassinations, and weapons procurement as a member of Cártel del Noreste who commanded hundreds of sicarios and oversaw stash ho Release not yet checked; no cartel label |
Extradited | DEA |
| 2026-01-05 | Dallas | drug conspiracy trafficking narcotics for the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 135 months in federal prison |
DEA |
| 2025-12-18 | Houston | conspiring to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization; international cocaine distribution conspiracy Release names: Tren de Aragua |
Indicted | FBI |
| 2025-12-15 | Laredo | Firearms trafficking and smuggling of goods (firearms cache bound for Mexico) No cartel named in the release |
Pleaded guilty pleaded guilty; each faces up to 15 years (firearms traffick |
HSI |
| 2025-12-01 | Sherman | conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 75 months |
DEA |
| 2025-09-25 | Laredo | Conspiracy to smuggle fentanyl and cocaine in family vehicle No cartel named in the release |
Pleaded guilty pleaded guilty; faces up to life in federal prison and $1M f |
HSI |
| 2025-08-14 | San Antonio | possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine No cartel named in the release |
Sentenced 235 months |
DEA |
| 2025-08-13 | Laredo | Release names: Los Zetas | Charged | USAO-SDTX |
| 2025-06-20 | Laredo | attempting to traffic firearms into Mexico on behalf of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) Release names: CJNG |
Sentenced 41 months in prison (Morales-Calvo); 57 months in prison (Ar |
ATF |
| 2025-05-30 | Brownsville | conspiring to provide material support to CJNG in the form of U.S. currency, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and fraudulent entry of approximately 2,881 Release names: CJNG |
Charged | IRS-CI |
| 2025-05-16 | El Paso | providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization; firearms trafficking; alien smuggling conspiracy; bulk cash smuggling; drug trafficki Release names: CJNG |
Charged | FBI |
| 2025-03-28 | Laredo, Texas | Release names: Cártel del Noreste | Sentenced | ICE |
| 2025-03-28 | Laredo | alien smuggling; bribery; attempted cocaine importation Release names: Cártel del Noreste |
Sentenced 117 months in prison + 4 years supervised release; $17,980 m |
Release |
| 2025-03-25 | Laredo | possession of ammunition by illegal alien Release names: Cártel del Noreste |
Sentenced 63 months in federal prison |
Release |
| 2025-02-28 | Brownsville | Release not yet checked; no cartel label | Charged | DEA |
Showing the 40 most recent of 61.
Our Texas coverage
- $900 a Child, THC Gummies to Keep Them Quiet: Juárez Couple Extradited to El Paso, Texas, Accused of Smuggling Kids Ages 5 to 13 Across the Border Sep 29, 2026
- $54,000 to Smugglers, 3 Dead in a Hill Country Crash: Houston Man Gets 35 More Years in Del Rio, Texas, for Role in CJNG-Linked Smuggling Ring Sep 28, 2026
- 94 Pounds of Fentanyl in One Commercial Truck at the Laredo Port of Entry: Texas DPS Arrests Wisconsin and Oklahoma Men in $1.4 Million Seizure Sep 27, 2026
- A Pet Jaguar and a Toll on Crude Trucked Into Texas: Who Is ‘Primito,’ the U.S.-Sanctioned Boss Mexico Says ‘El Bebo’ Worked For Sep 27, 2026
- Life in Prison for Louisiana Smuggler Who Livestreamed a 105-MPH Chase, Then Killed a Grandmother, a 7-Year-Old Girl and 2 Migrants in Ozona, Texas Sep 26, 2026
- Guatemala’s ‘The Iceman’ Flown to McKinney, Texas, After 8-Year U.S. Hunt — Accused Associate of Ex-Mayor Who Allegedly Supplied Sinaloa Cartel Cocaine Sep 25, 2026
- Caught in Chicago: U.S. Marshals Arrest Rogelio Castro, a Fugitive They Tie to the Sinaloa Cartel, Wanted in West Texas on a Cocaine Warrant Sep 24, 2026
- 13,000 Pounds of Marijuana for Rio Grande Valley Smugglers: Gulf Cartel Lieutenant Gets 12 Years in Texas, a Decade After His Mexico City Arrest Sep 24, 2026
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.