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Are There Cartels in Nevada? MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Reported Groups and Evidence (2026)

Which Mexican cartels and transnational gangs are reported in Nevada, what federal prosecutors have charged since 2024, and our latest Nevada 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 Nevada-specific evidence: MS-13, Tren de Aragua
  • Federal drug-trafficking cases since Jan 2024: 5 (3 indicted, 1 charged, 1 convicted)
  • Cities in those cases: Las Vegas

How to read this page

  • Reported presence comes from DEA, Congressional Research Service, Justice Department and news reports that name Nevada 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 Nevada

  • MS-13 (federal court case, Las Vegas, as of 2026): “The defendants were members of the Parkview clique operating in Las Vegas, Nevada.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]
  • Tren de Aragua (news report, Las Vegas, as of 2019): “Nevada provided an early signal. SFS's Tren de Aragua Activity Monitor documents that TdA-linked presence in Nevada became evident in August 2019, when Jesús Ernesto Reyes Garcia was indicted in Las Vegas for orchestrating an ATM jackpotting scheme that allegedly withdrew about $125,000.” [Center for a Secure Free Society · news/research]
  • MS-13 (federal court case, Las Vegas, as of 2025): “Vargas-Escobar and his co-defendants are allegedly part of MS-13's command and control structure in Las Vegas and California and exercised significant leadership roles in the organization's operations.” [U.S. Department of Justice · official record]

Named in multi-state or national actions that include Nevada

These federal actions or reports cover several states at once. They show Nevada was among the places named, not that a group has an established presence here.

  • 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]
  • Sinaloa Cartel (news report, as of 2025): “He also said the alleged drug trafficking organization is 'one of the largest and most dangerous fentanyl operations in United States history' – spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Bondi said the organization is affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico.” [Tri-City Record · news/research]
  • Sinaloa Cartel (news report, as of 2025): “El Paisa ran his operation out of Salem, Oregon, but his group also had a presence in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Layton, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada.” [Internewscast · news/research]

Federal cases in Nevada (since Jan 2024)

Date City Charges Stage Source
2026-08-04 Las Vegas continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (400g+ fentanyl); possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; p
No cartel named in the release		 Charged HSI
2026-07-07 Las Vegas conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; distribution of a controlled substance; poss
No cartel named in the release		 Convicted DEA
2026-04-10 Las Vegas conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; distribution of fentanyl; distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit money laundering; money launder
No cartel named in the release		 Indicted FBI
2025-06-11 Las Vegas conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license; felon in possession of a firearm; distribution of m
No cartel named in the release		 Indicted FBI
2025-04-30 Las Vegas conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine); distribution of heroin; prohibited person in possession of a firear
No cartel named in the release		 Indicted ATF

Our Nevada coverage

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Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Report errors via our corrections page.