2 Deadly Mexican Gangs May Have Just Formed a 'Super Cartel'
It started with a video — grainy, dark, and ominous. Dozens of masked men, armed to the teeth, kneeling in silence while one voice on camera confirmed what many had only whispered — two of Mexico's most feared cartels, bitter enemies for years, had allegedly joined forces.
If the claims are true, this could mark the rise of a so-called "super cartel," one with the potential to upend criminal power structures across the Western Hemisphere.
But is it real? And if so, what does it mean for Mexico — and for the United States?
An Uneasy Alliance
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the "Los Chapitos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel have been locked in a bloody rivalry for over a decade. Their feud reached a low point in 2016 when two of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons were kidnapped by CJNG operatives. The men were later released unharmed, but the message was clear: CJNG wasn't afraid to go after Sinaloa royalty.
Now, according to a recently circulated video, those two former foes may be standing side-by-side. The footage — posted anonymously and widely shared on social media — shows members of both groups kneeling together in what appears to be a declaration of alliance. One man off camera says, "The rumors are true, the alliance between the New Generation Cartel and La Chapiza is confirmed," according to the Mirror.
Why Now?
The timing is key. In July 2024, the United States arrested Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada-Garcia — a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel and longtime rival to Los Chapitos — in New Mexico near El Paso, Texas.
His capture reportedly deepened existing rifts within the Sinaloa organization. According to the DEA's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, the alliance between CJNG and Los Chapitos may be a strategic move to capitalize on that chaos.
The report warns this partnership could shift the criminal balance of power in Mexico, potentially increasing northbound drug smuggling and southbound weapons trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border.
What We Know About the Players
CJNG, led by Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, has built a reputation as one of the most ruthless and expansionist criminal groups in the Americas. Los Chapitos, meanwhile, are led by the sons of El Chapo — particularly Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán.
Despite a turbulent history, both factions may now see each other as the best bet to fend off rivals and law enforcement.
Negotiations reportedly began last year in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit, and some sources claim that as part of the deal, one of El Chapo's sons was offered to CJNG as a form of guarantee.
US Officials on High Alert
The DEA isn't taking this lightly. Acting Administrator Robert Murphy described the cartels in his 2025 report as "the primary groups producing the illicit synthetic drugs driving U.S. drug poisoning deaths," according to the Daily Mail.
The numbers are sobering. More than 84,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the 12 months leading up to October 2024, largely due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to a CDC report, as reported by The Manchester Evening News. Many of these drugs are believed to be funneled into the U.S. through networks run by the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG.
What Comes Next?
Right now, authorities haven't officially confirmed the authenticity of the viral video. Mexican and US officials are reportedly investigating the alleged alliance, but so far, no formal statements have been made. If the partnership is genuine, experts warn it could trigger a dramatic escalation in violence across key drug trafficking routes — particularly in areas where rival cartels hold sway.
The alliance, if real, would not only consolidate control over much of Mexico's drug trade — it could also grant the super cartel access to a wider network of corrupt officials, laundered money, and international partners. And for law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border, that means a much tougher fight ahead.
References: Fears of new 'super cartel' as Mexico's most violent gangs make terrifying alliance | Two of Mexico's most violent drug gangs 'form super cartel' | Cartel power structure may shift with alliance: DEA | Fears of new 'super cartel' between two of Mexico's most violent drug gangs
