Latest Cartel News Updates (as of November 16, 2025)

Cartel-related violence, money laundering, and international crackdowns continue to dominate headlines, particularly in Mexico and cross-border operations. Here's a summary of the most recent developments from the past two weeks, focusing on key events, enforcement actions, and societal impacts.

Major Enforcement Actions

• U.S. and Mexico Target Sinaloa Cartel Money Laundering via Gambling: On November 13, the U.S. Treasury's OFAC and FinCEN, alongside Mexican authorities, sanctioned the Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG) and 10 Mexico-based gambling establishments used for laundering Sinaloa Cartel proceeds. The HOCG, linked to the cartel through family-run businesses like casinos and restaurants, facilitated narcotrafficking across Mexico and Europe. This follows U.S.-Mexico commitments to combat financial crimes tied to cartels. FinCEN issued a proposed rule designating these transactions as primary money laundering concerns.

• Cartels Adopt Ukraine-Style Drone Tactics: A November 14 report highlights Mexican cartels increasingly using first-person view (FPV) drones for attacks, inspired by Ukraine's conflict. Cartel members have reportedly trained in Ukraine's foreign fighter units. This escalates the hybrid threat, blending criminal and paramilitary tactics, with cartels now deploying vehicle-borne IEDs, anti-aircraft guns, and RPGs.

Violence and Assassinations in Mexico

• Protests Erupt Over Anti-Cartel Mayor's Assassination: On November 15, thousands of Gen Z-led protesters stormed Mexico City's National Palace during anti-corruption marches, demanding action against cartel violence. The demonstrations were sparked by the November 1 assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, a vocal cartel critic, during a Day of the Dead event—marking the seventh mayor killed in Michoacán since 2022. President Claudia Sheinbaum accused protesters of right-wing backing, while crowds decried a "narco-state." Protests turned chaotic with tear gas deployed. Manzo's death is seen as a "reality check" on Sheinbaum's targeted anti-cartel strategy, which avoids all-out war.

• Sinaloa Cartel Infighting Claims 13 Lives: On November 4, a shootout in Sinaloa state killed 13 suspected cartel members amid ongoing factional wars triggered by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada's July 2024 U.S. capture. The violence, symbolized by cartel markers like pizzas and sombreros on bodies, has paralyzed cities and intensified since Zambada's betrayal by a son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

U.S. Policy Shifts and Broader Impacts

• Trump Plans Potential Military Action in Mexico: A November 3 report reveals the Trump administration is preparing a new mission against cartels, potentially involving U.S. troops targeting labs and leaders on Mexican soil—though not aimed at undermining Mexico's government. This builds on April discussions of drone strikes and follows covert CIA actions in Venezuela. Mexican officials have pushed back against foreign intervention ideas.

• Other Notable Mentions:

  • Mexican senators physically clashed on November 10 over debates on U.S. military intervention against cartels.

  • Ongoing U.S. sanctions from earlier in 2025 target groups like Carteles Unidos, Los Viagras, and the Venezuelan "Cartel de los Soles" (linked to Maduro), but no major new actions reported this week.

  • In Cancún, two CJNG members were arrested on November 16 with marijuana and weapons during a routine patrol.

Key Event	Date	Location	Impact
Hysa Group Sanctions	Nov 13	Mexico/U.S.	Disrupts Sinaloa laundering networks; 10 casinos flagged
Gen Z Protests & Palace Storming	Nov 15	Mexico City	Highlights public fury over corruption; tear gas response
Mayor Manzo Assassination	Nov 1	Uruapan, Michoacán	Sparks nationwide anti-cartel marches; 7th mayor killed since 2022
Sinaloa Shootout	Nov 4	Sinaloa	13 cartel suspects dead; escalates infighting
Drone Tactics Adoption	Nov 14	Mexico (general)	Cartels gain military-grade tech from Ukraine training