Why this is true:
The term “cartel” is technically a misnomer when applied to modern Mexican drug organizations. While they originated as true cartels—groups that collaborated to control prices and distribution—they have evolved into something quite different
Modern Mexican drug organizations are better described as sophisticated criminal enterprises or syndicates rather than cartels. They operate with:
- Decentralized cell structures
- Multiple leaders and independent operations
- Territorial control rather than price-fixing agreements
- Diverse criminal activities beyond drug trafficking3
Why They’re Not True Cartels
The modern groups don’t fit the economic definition of a cartel because:
- They lack the hierarchical structure typical of traditional cartels
- They actively compete and fight with each other rather than cooperate
- They operate more like militant criminal enterprises than business collaborators
Academic Perspective
Mexican academic Oswaldo Zavala argues in his book “Drug Cartels Do Not Exist” that the term is inappropriate, as these organizations don’t meet the technical definition of a cartel. The competitive nature of the drug trade and their lack of hierarchical structure contradicts the traditional cartel model
The term “cartel” has simply stuck despite being technically incorrect, much like how the term “mafia” has become a generic term for organized crime. These organizations are more accurately described as transnational criminal organizations or drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)
Ricardo Chavira Chicano 