Mexican Cartels Signal Expansion into Colombia, Raising Security Concerns
Cali, Colombia – A recent intelligence alert, designated 012 and dated August 26, 2025, has confirmed the presence of powerful Mexican mafias operating within Colombia, specifically identifying the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The alert signals a potential escalation of organized crime in the region and a shift in the landscape of transnational drug trafficking.
The report details the involvement of “European emissaries” operating from Ecuador,who are allegedly facilitating the strengthening of criminal networks in Colombia’s coca-producing southern regions. This suggests a purposeful and coordinated effort to establish a foothold in the country, moving beyond isolated incidents to a broader reconfiguration of cross-border criminal activity. while official documentation of specific alliances remains limited,military sources consulted by SEMANA confirm ongoing information sharing with other State agencies regarding the increased Mexican presence.
The potential arrival of these cartels evokes concerns of a violent escalation, mirroring tactics previously employed in Mexico.In 2006, the Familia Michoacana cartel publicly displayed five human skulls in a Uruapan nightclub, accompanied by a message justifying their violence as “divine justice.” This display of symbolic and public violence served as a method of imposing territorial control and is viewed by authorities as a potential precursor to similar actions should the Mexican cartels attempt to establish dominance in Colombia. The alert underscores a growing concern that these groups, with significant resources and experience, may exploit existing state weaknesses to expand their operations.
