Meet the 5 International Gangs Active in Arizona

The border between Arizona and Mexico has long been an area of concern. Since the inception of the new administration, President Donald Trump's policies have reduced some of the problems at the border.

Reducing the Threat of Cartels Across Arizona

Local and federal law enforcement agencies have been working to reduce the threat of international cartels that have been operating in the Southwest. Border Security operations have been assisted by the National Guard. Together, they are implementing surveillance technology and enlisting cross-border cooperation.

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The DEA and HSI are conducting major drug busts, surveillance, and international investigations. Other law enforcement agencies are working together to reduce the threat of cartels in our state.

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The International Cartels with Operations in Arizona

Despite the cross-agency efforts, here are the five major cartels operating in Arizona:

1. Sinaloa Cartel

• Origin: Sinaloa, Mexico
• Illegal Activities: Drug trafficking, primarily fentanyl, heroin, meth, cocaine. Human smuggling and money laundering.
• Arizona Presence: Phoenix, Tucson, and border counties like Cochise and Santa Cruz.
• Operations: The Sinaloa Cartel uses Arizona as a major transshipment hub for drugs that enter the United States through border smuggling routes.
• Law Enforcement Action: Agencies have indicted a number of high-ranking members through the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona. The DEA has led seizures of millions of fentanyl pills.

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2. La Eme (New Mexican Mafia)

• Origin: This is a product of gang members incarcerated through the United States prison system, with ties to Mexican cartels.
• Activities: Drug trafficking, extortion, prison control, and violent enforcement.
• Arizona Presence: La Eme operates primarily in the Phoenix metro area and throughout Arizona state prisons.
• Operations: Controls drug flow inside prisons and coordinates with cartels for street-level distribution.
• Law Enforcement Action: This cartel has been targeted by the Arizona Department of Corrections and federal task forces.

3. Barrio Hollywood Gang

• Origin: Tucson, Arizona
• Activities: Members sell drugs and commit robberies, violent crimes, and enforce territorial control.
• Arizona Presence: Southern Arizona, especially in Tucson.
• Operations: Local street gangs with cartel ties are involved in neighborhood-level drug distribution.
• Law Enforcement Action: Monitored by Tucson PD and GIITEM (Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission).

4. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)

• Origin: Jalisco, Mexico
• Activities: Involved in synthetic drug production, human trafficking, assassinations, and extortion.
• Arizona Presence: This cartel has an increasing presence in Phoenix and across Arizona's border areas.
• Operations: CJNG competes with the Sinaloa Cartel for control of smuggling corridors across the Arizona/Mexico border.
• Law Enforcement Action: DEA and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) track CJNG’s U.S. expansion.

5. Lara-Valencia Syndicate

• Origin: Chandler, Arizona
• Activities: This cartel/gang is involved in heroin and cocaine trafficking and supplies prison distribution networks.
• Arizona Presence: East Valley (Chandler, Mesa).
• Operations: This is a family-run drug ring with cartel connections; it utilizes stash houses and local networks as part of its operations.
• Law Enforcement Action: Dismantled by federal and local law enforcement in a major bust.

Sources: Attorney General of Arizona | United States Department of Justice | AZ Central | AZ DPS |