The mafia exists all over the world and as far as we know it started in Sicily (Sicilian mafia) well before the 19th century. They were wanted in Sicily for murder and had fled to New York. In 1881 they were arrested in New Orleans and extradited to Italy. After that more of these groups followed in different countries. Below you will find an overview of different mafia cartels with useful links.
| Cartel name | Founders and bosses |
|---|---|
| Medellínkartel Active for years: 1976–1993 Founding location: Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia Territory: Colombia (Antioquia), Panama, Californië, New York City, Florida, Norman’s Cay | Pablo Escobar Gustavo Gaviria Jorge Ochoa Vásquez Fabio Ochoa Vásquez Juan Ochoa Vásquez José Rodríguez Gacha Carlos Lehder |
| Cali Cartel Active for years: 1977–1996 Founding location: Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia Territory: South America, Central America, Miami, New York City, Spain | Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela José Santacruz Londoño Hélmer “Pacho” Herrera |
| Sinaloa Cartel Active for years: 1987–heden Founding location: Culiacán, Sinaloa, México Territory: Mexico, Centraal and Zuid-Amerika, Canada, United States, Anglo-Caribbean regio Australia | Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Héctor Palma Salazar Juan José Esparragoza Moreno Ovidio Guzmán López |
| Guadalajara Cartel Active for years: 1980–1989 Founding location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Territory: Mexico: Jalisco, Tijuana, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Colima, Sonora, Zacatecas | Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo Rafael Caro Quintero Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo Juan José Esparragoza Moreno |
| Tijuana Cartel Active for years: 1987 – heden Founding location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Territory: Mexico: Tijuana, Baja California, Baja California Sur United States: San Diego, Los Angeles | Benjamín Arellano Félix Ramón Arellano Félix Other names of the family: Eduardo Arellano Félix Ramón Arellano Félix Luis Fernando Arellano Félix Javier Arellano Félix |
| Juárez Cartel Active for years: 1970-heden Founding location: Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico Territory Mexico: Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez Various Mexican cities Territory United States: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma | Rafael Aguilar Guajardo Pablo Acosta Villarreal Amado Carrillo Fuentes Vicente Carrillo Fuentes |
