Understanding the Real Structure of the Sinaloa Cartel

This map reveals the alliances and territorial reach of the Sinaloa Cartel, divided between factions loyal to Los Chapitosand La Mayiza.

Each color represents a separate criminal cell such as Los Salgueiro, Los Cabrera, Los Rusos, Los Ninis, and Los Güeritos. Together they form a network of semi-autonomous regional groups that sustain one of the most powerful criminal syndicates in the Western Hemisphere.

While many view the Sinaloa Cartel as a single organization, in reality it operates as a confederation of local criminal enterprises that control key corridors for narcotics, logistics, mining, fuel, and commercial exports. This fragmentation complicates compliance and increases exposure for businesses that operate often unknowingly within their areas of influence.

For companies in finance, logistics, trade, or agriculture, this means potential exposure to U.S. federal statutes governing terrorist financing, narcotics trade, and transnational crime, including:
8 U.S.C. §2339B Providing material support to designated terrorist organizations
21 U.S.C. §§959 / 960 Drug trafficking and distribution outside the U.S.
18 U.S.C. §§1956 / 1957 Money laundering and financial structuring
50 U.S.C. §1705 (IEEPA) Transactions with sanctioned entities
31 U.S.C. §§5318A / 5331 AML program failures and suspicious transaction obligations
18 U.S.C. §1343 Wire fraud in laundering or concealment schemes

Sanctions Regimes
OFAC SDN Designations (Kingpin Act, 21 U.S.C. §1904)
FinCEN Section 311 “Special Measures” (Section 9714, AMLA 2020)
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

At Obsidian Group Analytics (OGA), we provide Enhanced Due Diligence, network mapping, and geopolitical risk intelligence to help clients understand the real structure behind their business environment.

Knowing the map isn’t enough. You need to know who’s behind it.