Security sources and victim testimonies consulted for this report detail a repetitive modus operandi that works on the premise that its actions go unnoticed.
“The Real Estate Cartel: Corruption, Violence, and Urban Control in Mexico City”
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How the Unión Tepito Recruits Street Workers into a Network of “Chacales” in Mexico City
Across the 16 boroughs of Mexico City, around 2,000 “franeleros” (parking attendants) are active, according to the Secretariat of Labor and Employment Promotion (STyFE). The Cuauhtémoc borough concentrates the largest share, with 781 registered attendants, over 40% of the total. Between September 2023 and January 2025, the Secretariat of Citizen […]
“The New Familia Michoacana: a terrorist organization operating in the shadows of the State of Mexico”
“The New Familia Michoacana is a terrorist organization operating in the shadows of the State of Mexico, infiltrating communities and defying state authority. #Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator (federalregister.gov) The New Familia Michoacana is not just a drug cartel; it is a criminal structure that has infiltrated and controlled entire communities […]
Alejandro Gilmare “El Choko”: From Local Leader to Criminal Boss in Ecatepec
Alejandro Gilmare Mendoza, known as “El Choko”, was born and raised in eastern Mexico State, where he first appeared as a local community leader. Over time, that image of a supposed “social protector” transformed into a criminal machine. From Ecatepec, he commanded La Chokiza, a criminal group dedicated to extortion, […]
Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García — yes, the mythical capo who supposedly lived forever in the shadows — is now preparing to plead guilty in Brooklyn, this August 25, 2025
“El Mayo” Zambada to Plead Guilty in U.S. Court: Facing 17 Charges, Including Fentanyl Trafficking Tied to Philadelphia’s Overdose Crisis
Protegido: Mexico City’s Shadow Syndicate: How Street Vendors and Parking Attendants Fuel Organized Crime
Real Estate Theft in Mexico City: Statistics, Key Players, and the Organized Crime Pipeline
Alarming NumbersAccording to data from the Public Property Registry and reports collected by the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (FGJCDMX), between 2018 and 2024 more than 2,500 cases of illegal property takeovers have been reported in the capital. Boroughs such as Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, and Tlalpan are the most […]
