Cárteles Unidos (English: ''United Cartels''), also known as La Resistencia (English: ''The Resistance'') is a Mexican criminal enforcer squad composed of well-trained gunmen from the
Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel ( es, link=no, Cártel de Sinaloa), also known as the CDS, the Guzmán-Loera Organization, the Pacific Cartel, the Federation and the Blood Alliance, is a large, international organized crime syndicate that specializes in il ...
,
Gulf Cartel and
Knights Templar Cartel
The Knights Templar Cartel (Spanish: ''Los Caballeros Templarios'') was a Mexican criminal organization originally composed of the remnants of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel based in the Mexican State of Michoacán.
The Knights Templar Ca ...
originally formed to expel the
Los Zetas Cartel from the states of
Michoacán and
Jalisco.
However, Cárteles Unidos' current main rival has now become the
Jalisco New Generation Cartel; a
paramilitary criminal organization based in the neighboring state of Jalisco.
History
La Resistencia gang was originally created by Sinaloa Cartel leader
Ignacio Coronel Villarreal in 2010 soon after the rival gang Los Zetas began encroaching in
Michoacán. Originally, La Resistencia was composed of gunmen from the
Milenio Cartel which was loyal to the
Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel ( es, link=no, Cártel de Sinaloa), also known as the CDS, the Guzmán-Loera Organization, the Pacific Cartel, the Federation and the Blood Alliance, is a large, international organized crime syndicate that specializes in il ...
.
They were also supported by the local Michoacán cartel
La Familia Michoacana to fight against
Los Zetas
Los Zetas (, Spanish for "The Zs") is a Mexican criminal syndicate, regarded as one of the most dangerous of Mexico's drug cartels. They are known for engaging in brutally violent "shock and awe" tactics such as beheadings, torture, and indiscr ...
and the
Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.
Then, the Milenio Cartel was incorporated into the Sinaloa Cartel, while La Familia and Beltran-Leyva cartels were destroyed by federal security forces. In 2011, La Resistencia continued its violent campaign against Los Zetas by joining forces between the Sinaloa, Gulf and
Knights Templar Cartel
The Knights Templar Cartel (Spanish: ''Los Caballeros Templarios'') was a Mexican criminal organization originally composed of the remnants of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel based in the Mexican State of Michoacán.
The Knights Templar Ca ...
s (itself a splinter from La Familia).
Alliances change
With the capture of Óscar Nava Valencia, leader of the Milenio cartel and the death of Ignacio Coronel Villarreal of the Sinaloa cartel, the Milenio cartel broke into many factions, the most notable being a renewed La Resistencia, headed by Ramiro Pozos ''El Molca''. The neighboring
Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) headed by
Nemesio Oseguera ''El Mencho'' took notice of the collapse of the Milenio cartel and began its own war for control of the region.
On March 1, 2011, Mexican federal police arrested a man they claimed to be the leader of "La Resistencia" Cartel, Víctor Manuel Torres García, alias "El Papirrín". On August 1, 2011, La Resistencia commander, Neri Salgado Harrison, was arrested in Michoacán by the
Mexican Federal Police.
[ Salgado was also the head of the Apatzingan plaza, and directed the production of methamphetamine in clandestine drug labs.]
See also
* Merida Initiative
* Mexican Drug War
References
Organizations established in 2010
2010 establishments in Mexico
Gangs in Mexico
Paramilitary organizations based in Mexico
Mexican drug war
Gulf Cartel
Sinaloa Cartel
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