25 Most Dangerous Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations in 2026

Transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and cartels remain a major global threat. They traffic drugs, extort, smuggle humans, deal arms, and commit cybercrime. Using violence, corruption, and international networks, they operate across borders and influence economies and public safety.

This list ranks the 25 most dangerous TCOs and cartels based on U.S. DEA, State Department, Insight Crime, Global Guardian, and EL PAcCTO reports. Ranking factors include violence, drug trafficking impact, territorial control, and global reach. Data is from 2024–2025, reflecting changes into 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. These groups commit serious crimes. Engaging with them is illegal and extremely dangerous.

1. Sinaloa Cartel (Mexico)

• Origin: 1980s, split from Guadalajara Cartel
• Leaders: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada-García, Guzmán family (“Los Chapitos”)
• Activities: Fentanyl, meth, cocaine, heroin, marijuana trafficking; money laundering; extortion; human smuggling; illegal wildlife trade
• Violence: Murders, torture, public intimidation
• Reach: 40+ countries, all 50 U.S. states
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; internal infighting; 29 members extradited

2. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) (Mexico)

• Origin: ~2010, from Milenio Cartel remnants
• Leader: Mid-level commanders after founder Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes died 2026
• Activities: Fentanyl/meth production; extortion; migrant smuggling; oil theft; arms trade
• Violence: Drone bombings, landmines, helicopter shoot-downs, assassinations
• Reach: 40+ countries, strong U.S. distribution
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; alliances with Sinaloa; sanctions on fuel theft operations

3. Tren de Aragua (Venezuela)

• Origin: 2012–13, Tocorón prison gang
• Leaders: Héctor “Niño Guerrero” Flores (fugitive), Yohan “Johan Petrica” Romero
• Activities: Human trafficking; extortion; sex trafficking; contract killings; kidnapping; small-scale drugs
• Violence: Assaults, murders, arson
• Reach: Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, U.S. migrant communities
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; U.S. strike killed 11 members; alliances with PCC and CV

4. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) (El Salvador/Transnational)

• Origin: 1980s Los Angeles
• Structure: Decentralized cliques
• Activities: Street-level drugs, robbery, prostitution, extortion, human trafficking, firearms offenses
• Violence: Assassinations, IEDs, drone attacks
• Reach: El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, all 50 U.S. states
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; 260+ indictments; ongoing extraditions

5. Clan del Golfo (Colombia)

• Origin: Post-AUC demobilization
• Leader: Jobanis “Chiquito Malo” Ávila
• Activities: Cocaine trafficking; extortion; illegal mining; migrant smuggling
• Violence: Assassinations, territorial blockades
• Reach: Colombia, export routes to Europe/U.S.
• Recent: FTO Dec 2025; stalled peace talks; conflicts with ELN

6. Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) (Brazil)

• Origin: 1993, São Paulo prisons
• Structure: Decentralized
• Activities: Cocaine/meth trafficking; money laundering; extortion; murder-for-hire
• Violence: Low-profile, occasional prison riots
• Reach: 90+ countries, Southern Cone, Europe, Asia
• Recent: Alliances with Tren de Aragua; precursor chemical expansion

7. Northeast Cartel (CDN) (Mexico)

• Origin: Splinter from Los Zetas
• Activities: Fentanyl/meth smuggling; kidnapping; extortion; human smuggling
• Violence: Torture, assassinations
• Reach: Northeast Mexico into Texas/U.S.
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; wars with Gulf Cartel; 29 members extradited

8. Gulf Cartel (CDG) (Mexico)

• Origin: 1930s, Tamaulipas
• Activities: Drug/human smuggling; extortion; kidnapping; fuel theft
• Violence: Factional wars, beheadings
• Reach: Rio Grande Valley, U.S. corridors
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; port alliances; 29 members extradited

9. National Liberation Army (ELN) (Colombia)

• Origin: 1964, leftist guerrilla
• Leader: Antonio García
• Activities: Drug trafficking; extortion; kidnapping; illegal mining
• Violence: Bombings, infrastructure attacks
• Reach: Colombia-Venezuela borders
• Recent: Peace talks stalled; conflicts with Clan del Golfo

10. Comando Vermelho (CV) (Brazil)

• Origin: 1970s Rio de Janeiro prisons
• Activities: Drug trade; extortion; bank robberies; arms dealing
• Violence: Urban warfare, favela control
• Reach: Brazil, Paraguay; alliances with Tren de Aragua
• Recent: Border expansions for trafficking

11. La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) (Mexico)

• Origin: 2010s, Michoacán/Guerrero
• Leadership: Family-linked commanders
• Activities: Meth/fentanyl trafficking; illegal mining; extortion; avocado trade control
• Violence: Drone attacks, explosives, massacres
• Reach: U.S. distribution, Asian precursor imports
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; port battles with CJNG; 29 members expelled

12. Carteles Unidos (CU) (Mexico)

• Origin: 2010s, Michoacán alliance (Viagras, Knights Templar remnants)
• Leadership: Rotating allied bosses
• Activities: Drug trafficking; turf defense; extortion; logging control
• Violence: Armed clashes, blockades
• Reach: Local ports, U.S. export links
• Recent: FTO Feb 2025; ongoing turf wars

13. Barrio 18 (Transnational)

• Origin: 1960s Los Angeles, Mexican immigrant roots
• Structure: Clique-based (sureños, revolucionarios)
• Activities: Extortion; drug sales; human trafficking; robbery
• Violence: Initiations, tattoos, killings
• Reach: Central America, U.S., Mexico
• Recent: FTO with MS-13 2025; U.S. deportations

14. Cartel de los Soles (Venezuela)

• Origin: 1990s, Venezuelan military-linked
• Leadership: Alleged high-ranking officials
• Activities: Cocaine trafficking; money laundering; arms smuggling
• Violence: Low-profile corruption
• Reach: Global, U.S. and Europe
• Recent: FTO 2025; U.S. claims Maduro involvement

15. Los Choneros (Ecuador)

• Origin: 2000s, prison gang
• Leader: José Adolfo “Fito” Macías (escaped 2024)
• Activities: Drug trafficking; extortion; assassinations; prison control
• Violence: Hits, riots, alliances with foreign cartels
• Reach: Ports linked to Mexican groups
• Recent: FTO Sep 2025; U.S.-Ecuador joint operations

16. ‘Ndrangheta (Italy)

• Origin: 19th century, Calabrian family clans
• Leadership: Blood-tied ‘ndrine families
• Activities: Cocaine trade; money laundering; extortion; public contract infiltration
• Violence: Targeted killings, subtle influence
• Reach: Europe, U.S., Latin American supply chains
• Recent: Latin America operations increased

17. Oficina de Envigado (Colombia)

• Origin: 1980s, Pablo Escobar enforcers
• Leadership: Decentralized successors
• Activities: Drug trafficking; assassinations; extortion; debt collection
• Violence: Hit squads, local intimidation
• Reach: Supports larger cartels
• Recent: Alliances with Colombian and Mexican groups

18. Los Lobos (Ecuador)

• Origin: 2010s prison gang split
• Leadership: Fluid post-splits from Los Choneros
• Activities: Drug smuggling; port violence; extortion; assassinations
• Violence: Mass escapes, bombings, cartel hits
• Reach: Ties to Sinaloa and CJNG
• Recent: FTO Sep 2025; role in 2024 homicide surge

19. Second Marquetalia (Colombia)

• Origin: 2019, FARC dissident
• Founder: Iván Márquez (deceased 2023)
• Activities: Cocaine production; extortion; illegal mining; recruitment
• Violence: Ambushes, kidnappings, border clashes
• Reach: Border Venezuela; ties to ELN
• Recent: Fractured peace talks; internal splits

20. Albanian Mafia (Albania/Europe)

• Origin: 1990s, post-communist clans
• Leadership: Family bosses in diaspora
• Activities: Heroin/cocaine trafficking; human smuggling; cybercrime; arms trade
• Violence: Enforcement, rapid adaptation
• Reach: Europe, U.S., Latin America
• Recent: Fentanyl precursor supply expansion

21. Russian Organized Crime Groups (Russia/Transnational)

• Origin: Soviet-era syndicates, Thieves-in-Law
• Leadership: Hierarchical “vor” codes
• Activities: Cyberattacks; money laundering; drugs/weapons trade; fraud
• Violence: Low-profile, state-linked corruption
• Reach: Global, U.S. and Europe
• Recent: Heightened sanctions

22. Central General Staff (EMC) (Colombia)

• Origin: 2016, FARC dissident
• Leader: Iván Mordisco
• Activities: Drug trafficking; extortion; forced recruitment; coca protection
• Violence: Guerrilla warfare, bombings, clashes
• Reach: Coca-rich borders with Venezuela
• Recent: Splits from other dissidents; intensified coca-region violence

23. Familia Michoacana (Mexico)

• Origin: 2006, pseudo-religious vigilante group
• Leadership: Surviving founders and successors
• Activities: Meth production; kidnapping; piracy; extortion
• Violence: Cult-like indoctrination, dismemberments
• Reach: U.S. markets, Asian precursors
• Recent: Alliances in Michoacán wars; evolved into LNFM splinter

24. Rotela Clan (Paraguay)

• Origin: 2010s, prison-based
• Leadership: Prison bosses
• Activities: Marijuana/cocaine smuggling; extortion; arms dealing
• Violence: Riots, assassinations, border ambushes
• Reach: Brazilian border, PCC networks
• Recent: Expanded PCC ties

25. Tren del Llano (Venezuela)

• Origin: 2010s, Guárico state
• Leadership: Local warlords
• Activities: Extortion; kidnapping; cattle rustling; small-scale drugs
• Violence: Rural ambushes, checkpoints, clashes with authorities
• Reach: Regional, potential alliances with Tren de Aragua
• Recent: Conflicts with Venezuelan forces

Synthetic drugs like fentanyl dominate global markets. Despite crackdowns and FTO designations, these groups remain resilient. Fragmentation often fuels more violence, making international monitoring and cooperation essential.