How much power do drug cartels have in Mexico?

Inside StoryThe killing of cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ by Mexican forces triggered a wave of violence in the country.Mexico has been fighting against drug cartels for decades, and the nation’s leaders have sometimes mobilised the military to dismantle their vast criminal operations.This week, Mexican forces killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, the leader of one of the country’s most powerful drug gangs.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What we know about Mexican drug cartel leaders still at largelist 2 of 3With ‘El Mencho’ killed, what’s next for Mexico and the Jalisco cartel?list 3 of 3The killing of Mexican drug lord El Mencho: How it unfoldedend of listThe killing set off a wave of violence across the nation.So, how much power do drug cartels wield in Mexico? And how have they managed to keep their hold on the country – and others throughout Latin America – for so long?Presenter: Mohammed JamjoomGuests:Sergio Aguayo – professor, College of MexicoChris Dalby – author of CJNG: A Quick Guide to Mexico’s Deadliest CartelMichael Vigil – former chief of international operations, US Drug Enforcement AdministrationPublished On 24 Feb 2026