Criminal Cartels Dictate Fentanyl Availability and Usage Across Northern Mexico

Retail drug markets in northern Mexico are increasingly defined by the strategic mandates of local criminal organizations rather than traditional supply-and-demand economic principles. While major cartels historically prioritized large-scale trafficking operations toward the United States, the fragmentation of these groups over the last two decades has shifted the focus toward localized control. Smaller criminal cells now exert authority over neighborhoods by regulating the sale, pricing, and consumption of narcotics, using these retail hubs to secure predictable revenue and limit state intervention.

The integration of fentanyl into these local economies since 2016 highlights the varying methods of criminal governance. In some regions, syndicates actively push the substance, dictating the terms of its distribution. Conversely, other groups impose strict limitations on the drug to avoid attracting law enforcement attention or to prioritize the safety of their primary export routes. A recent investigation identifies five distinct operational models used by these groups to manage fentanyl markets. Ultimately, the decisions made by these criminal actors dictate how users access the drug, creating significant and varying consequences for both public security and regional public health.