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Unlike their rivals or even allies like the Sinaloa cartel—who primarily focus on methamphetamine, human trafficking, and drug cartels—CJNG has developed a unique specialization: the theft and trafficking of crude oil. This shift into energy commodities has transformed their operations into a form of industrial-sized tax evasion, generating estimated revenues of around $20 billion annually—roughly one-third of Mexico’s diesel and gasoline market.
This transition reflects a broader evolution in cartel business models, mirroring multinational energy conglomerates in scale and complexity.