Are There Cartels in the U.S.? Map, State-by-State Evidence and Federal Cases (2026)
Where Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported inside the United States, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and what it means for your state. Built from DEA, Justice Department, Congressional Research Service and news reports, with a source on every item.
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, 2025-05-18] The state-by-state evidence below goes further: named cities, federal cases and official reports.
Interactive map
Tap a state for the groups reported there and its federal cases.
Most evidence Some A little None published yet. Tap a state for details.
Shading counts state-specific evidence: federal cases since 2024 plus official and news reports naming the state. The DEA's nationwide statement (Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG affiliates in almost all 50 states) is not counted. Boundaries: Natural Earth.
State by state
| State | Groups reported | Federal cases | Other reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | CJNG, Cártel del Noreste, Gulf Cartel | 31 | 13 |
| California | Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, MS-13 | 29 | 7 |
| District of Columbia | CJNG, Los Zetas, Cárteles Unidos | 20 | 2 |
| Georgia | Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, La Nueva Familia Michoacana | 11 | 7 |
| Illinois | Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel) | 6 | 6 |
| New York | Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel) | 7 | 3 |
| North Carolina | CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua | 7 | 3 |
| Florida | Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 6 | 2 |
| Arizona | Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel) | 4 | 3 |
| New Mexico | Los Chapitos (Sinaloa Cartel), Los Mayos (Sinaloa Cartel), Tren de Aragua | 3 | 4 |
| Virginia | Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 4 | 2 |
| Minnesota | Sinaloa Cartel, Gulf Cartel | 5 | 0 |
| Ohio | Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 3 | 2 |
| Louisiana | Tren de Aragua, MS-13, Gulf Cartel | 2 | 2 |
| Tennessee | Beltrán Leyva Organization, Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 0 | 4 |
| Washington | CJNG, Tren de Aragua | 2 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | Cártel del Noreste, Guerreros Unidos, MS-13 | 0 | 3 |
| Colorado | Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua | 0 | 2 |
| Indiana | Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 0 | 2 |
| Montana | Sinaloa Cartel | 2 | 0 |
| New Jersey | Tren de Aragua, MS-13 | 0 | 2 |
| South Carolina | Tren de Aragua, Cártel del Noreste | 0 | 2 |
| South Dakota | Tren de Aragua | 1 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel | 1 | 1 |
| Wyoming | Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel | 1 | 1 |
How to read this page
- Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name each state or a city in it. It shows where groups have been reported, not how many people are involved.
- 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.
See also: Mexico cartel map and profiles · Who is who · Is it safe?
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.