Inside the Terrifying New Cartels Tearing Mexico Apart

In a grim turn for Mexico’s ongoing war on organized crime, new alliances among criminal groups have sparked unprecedented levels of violence, reshaping the nation's already chaotic criminal landscape. As ruthless as they are strategic, these emerging cartels—Gente Nueva Generación, Michoacán Nueva Generación, and Tabasco Nueva Generación—are taking their brutal fight to new frontiers. With an escalating death toll and widespread fear, they are now locked in a fierce struggle for control of illicit activities across multiple states.

So, who exactly are these new players? In the shadows of more notorious cartels, these organizations have formed strategic alliances and are making headlines for their ferocity, resources, and the territorial ambitions threatening Mexico’s fragile security.

Gente Nueva Generación

Gente Nueva Generación, sometimes referred to as Gente Nueva Guerrerense, is one of the latest violent offshoots making its bloody mark on the map. Born from an unholy alliance, this cartel has united the criminal cell “Los Rodríguez,” a faction of the notorious “La Familia Michoacana,” with the formidable Cartel Nueva Generación (CNG). Their common goal? To unseat Salvador Granados Vargas, the ruthless leader of “Los Granados,” who holds sway over Guerrero’s lawless Costa Chica.

For years, Los Rodríguez reigned over this strategic region, profiting from drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping. But when Los Granados muscled them out, the splinter group found a powerful ally in the CNG. With access to high-grade weaponry, tactical equipment, and even seasoned mercenaries from Central America, Gente Nueva Generación is determined to reclaim its lost territories. The cartel’s first major offensive—a failed ambush in Tecpan de Galeana on October 24—was a baptism of fire. The violent clash with federal forces left 16 dead and 11 detained, a sobering reminder of the group’s raw brutality.

Yet Gente Nueva Generación’s ambitions remain undeterred. As security forces zero in, the cartel has resorted to a guerrilla-style approach, operating deep within Guerrero’s rugged terrain. In Coyuca de Benítez, Navy units recently arrested eight members without incident, but the specter of future confrontations looms large.

Michoacán Nueva Generación

Next in this unsettling trio is Michoacán Nueva Generación, a cartel that has emerged from the ashes of a broken and war-torn state. Forged from an alliance between the CNG and the infamously violent gang “Los Viagras,” this cartel's main objective is to purge their old rivals: the remnants of “Los Templarios” and the so-called “El Abuelo” Cartel of Juan José Farías Álvarez.

Apatzingán, the birthplace of CNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” has become a pivotal battleground. In an eerie display of power, the group has flooded the region with threatening messages, demanding loyalty and promising a brutal “cleanup” of their enemies. The cartel claims to already control 80% of Michoacán, a staggering foothold built on years of meticulous strategy and a ruthless willingness to wield violence.

Key players in this unfolding drama include “Los Viagras” commanders Nicolás Sierra Santana (“El Gordo”), César Sepúlveda Arellano (“El Boto”), and Heladio Cisneros (“La Sirena”). These men are now top targets for President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security apparatus. Yet, they are not alone. Authorities are also in hot pursuit of “Los Templarios” leader Jorge Luis Nolasco Guillén (“Cokis”), the elusive Juan José Farías Álvarez (“El Abuelo”), and Miguel Ángel Gallegos Godoy (“Migueladas”), each a criminal powerhouse controlling different slices of Michoacán’s illicit economy.

President Sheinbaum’s administration has pledged to dismantle these entrenched cartels with zero tolerance. The challenge, however, is monumental. Michoacán’s mountainous terrain and deep-rooted history of criminal enterprise make it a hotbed of violence, where peace remains a distant dream.

Tabasco Nueva Generación

Further east, the Tabasco Nueva Generación Cartel has risen from the ashes of “La Barredora,” exploiting alliances with the CNG and other ruthless outfits. Their emergence has thrown Tabasco, the lush state along the Gulf of Mexico, into chaos. Once a relatively stable region, Tabasco is now gripped by violence as criminal groups wage bloody turf wars over drug trafficking routes, migrant extortion, and the theft of precious fuel supplies.

In early December, not long after President Sheinbaum assumed office, the cartel issued a chilling warning through social media: a promise to annihilate their rivals. As their fight for supremacy rages, the Gulf state is experiencing a worrying uptick in homicides, burned vehicles, and violent clashes. The cities of Villahermosa, Cárdenas, and Comalcalco have become epicenters of fear, where brazen daylight attacks have left residents on edge.

At the heart of this war are multiple factions battling for control. Tabasco is a strategic goldmine for organized crime, a gateway for drugs from South America and a crucial corridor for human smuggling. Yet, the government remains resolute. Heavily armed military units have been deployed, and Governor Javier May Rodríguez has vowed to restore order. But with Tabasco’s criminal underworld in a state of flux, the task is Herculean.

No Negotiation, Only Determination

Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has made one thing abundantly clear: her government will not be cowed into negotiating with criminals. When federal deputy Manuel Espino controversially suggested exploring dialogue, Sheinbaum swiftly shut him down. “We are not going to negotiate with criminals,” she declared emphatically. “We are going to continue building peace by addressing the causes and with zero impunity.”

But words alone may not be enough. The violence unfolding in Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tabasco is a sobering reminder that organized crime continues to evolve, often outpacing the state’s capacity to respond. From the rise of powerful new alliances to the brutality that defines them, Mexico is once again grappling with a daunting question: can peace ever be more than a distant dream in the war-torn regions where crime reigns supreme?