Drug cartel violence escalating in Mexico

A series of deadly clashes between rival drug gangs has sent Mexico’s homicide rate soaring to levels not seen in two decades

Jul 6, Las Varas: 14 people killed in shootout in Chihuahua state, where criminal groups squabble over remains of empire once controlled by Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán

Jul 1, Villa Union: At least 19 gunmen killed in shootout with police in Sinaloa state

Tampico
Merida
Cancun
Mexico City
Veracruz
Acapulco
Mazatlan
Torreon
Laredo
Monterrey
Ciudad Juarez
Chihuahua
Hermosillo
Nogales
Tijuana
Ciudad Obregon
Reynosa
Culican
Guadalajara
400km
250 miles

CARTELS’ AREAS OF OPERATION
Sinaloa
Sinaloa Federation
Beltran Leyva
Los Mazatlecos
El Chapo Trini / El Cadete

Tierra Caliente
Jalisco New Generation
Knights Templar
La Família Michoacana

Tamaulipas
Los Zetas
Gulf cartel
(Velazquez network)
Gulf cartel gangs

MEXICO MURDER VICTIMS (2014-17)

May 2017: 2,452 murders registered – record high for any month since 1997
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500

2014 17,324
2015 18,673
2016 22,967

Jan-May 2017: 11,155 homicides

Sources: Mexico government, Stratfor
Picture: Getty Images