Weapons from US, training in Ukraine: How Mexican cartels became militarised killing machines

The Mexican army on Sunday killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” the feared leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). His death effectively dismantled the command of what had grown into Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel, but it also triggered widespread violence and panic across the country.

Cartel members responded swiftly, torching vehicles and blocking highways at more than 250 locations across 20 states, according to authorities. Thick plumes of smoke filled the skies as major routes were cut off. In Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and a CJNG stronghold, streets fell eerily silent as residents stayed indoors, fearing further violence.

The cartel’s rise to dominance has been fueled by enormous wealth and global connections. Mexican officials estimate CJNG’s fortune at around $50 billion. Its influence stretches across at least nine Mexican states, with operational and criminal links spanning the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.


Unlike traditional drug gangs, CJNG has evolved into a highly militarised force capable of confronting state security agencies directly. In 2015, the cartel demonstrated its firepower by shooting down a Mexican military helicopter, killing 20 soldiers and a police officer. Authorities have also arrested several of El Mencho’s close relatives over the years, including his brother Antonio Oseguera Cervantes and his son Rubén Oseguera González, known as “El Menchito,” in efforts to weaken the organisation.

Investigations and security reports show that CJNG fighters now use advanced combat tactics and military-style equipment. These include drones modified to drop explosives, improvised explosive devices, and heavily armoured vehicles designed for urban and rural warfare.

A key factor behind the cartel’s transformation has been the steady flow of weapons from the United States. According to a study of New Lines Institute:, around 200,000 and 500,000 firearms are smuggled across the border into Mexico every year, forming what experts call an “iron river” of guns. Many of these weapons originate from U.S. manufacturers and are later recovered at cartel crime scenes.

Some of the seized weapons include high-powered semi-automatic rifles and .50 calibre firearms capable of penetrating armoured vehicles. Cartel fighters have also been seen carrying anti-materiel rifles such as the Barrett M82 and M95, weapons typically used in military combat to disable vehicles and fortified targets.

Mexico has repeatedly raised concerns over how criminal groups obtain such military-grade hardware. In 2024, the government called for investigations into the presence of belt-fed machine guns, grenade launchers, and explosives in cartel arsenals—equipment normally restricted to military forces.

Experts say the imbalance in gun availability between the two countries plays a major role. "The U.S. has over 75,000 active gun dealers, creating a vast supply chain that is difficult to monitor, while Mexico operates only a single, highly restricted gun store located on a military base in Mexico City. This disparity allows traffickers to exploit the abundance and accessibility of firearms in the U.S., transporting them illegally across the border to fuel organized crime and violence in Mexico," the study paper claimed.As per the report, Mexican cartel operatives are also being deployed in conflic regions like Ukraine to receive training on the use of drones in an offensive capacity, which are then used in Mexico.