When people think of Mexican cartels, they often associate them with drug-related activities. However, what might surprise you is that these cartels have diversified their operations. Last May, news emerged that some cartels had monopolized the tortilla market in certain regions, leading to price increases. Beyond drugs, they’ve expanded into extortion, petroleum and ore theft, weapons trafficking, migrant smuggling, and even prostitution. Their tactics include stealing directly from fuel pipelines, extorting agave and avocado farmers, and taxing migrant smugglers. Notably, during the first nine months of 2022, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Pemex, suffered a staggering $730 million loss due to illegal pipeline taps.
Source: Yahoo News