There is no single figure for the annual earnings of “cartels” because it is a broad term encompassing multiple organizations, and their finances are opaque

. Estimates vary widely depending on the source and the activities considered, which include not only drug trafficking but also human smuggling, extortion, and fuel theft. 

Estimated earnings from various sources

• Mexican drug cartels’ US drug sales: The US Department of Homeland Security estimated in 2010 that Mexican drug trafficking organizations generate between $19 billion and $29 billion annually from US drug sales.
• Human trafficking: In recent years, human smuggling has become a major revenue source. In 2022, a report cited by the New York Times and others estimated that cartels were making $13 billion a year from human trafficking. A September 2025 report noted estimates of $14 billion annually for human smuggling in 2021, but also indicated that revenue from this activity had significantly decreased.
• Extortion: Extortion has been a growing source of revenue for cartels in Mexico. One business lobby estimated that companies paid about $1.3 billion in extortion in 2023, and that the amount is increasing.
• Other activities: Cartels also profit from other criminal activities, including oil theft and the trafficking of other goods.
• Individual cartel estimates: In 2012, estimates indicated the Sinaloa cartel alone earned as much as $3 billion annually from Mexico’s drug trade. 

Estimates of the total annual revenue for Mexican and Colombian drug cartels range widely, generally falling between 

$18 billion and $40 billion annually from U.S. drug sales. This amount represents wholesale proceeds and does not account for all criminal activities. 

Key points regarding cartel earnings:

• Primary Source of Income (Drugs): Mexican cartels are estimated to generate between $19 billion and $29 billion annually from drug sales in the United States alone.
• Other Criminal Activities: Cartels have diversified their “portfolios” beyond drug trafficking and are involved in numerous other illegal ventures that generate significant income, including:
  • Human Smuggling: Revenues from smuggling migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border are substantial, with estimates suggesting this could generate $13 billion or more annually.
  • Extortion: Extortion has grown rampantly in Mexico, affecting significant parts of the economy and generating an estimated $1.3 billion in 2023 for various business sectors.
  • Theft: Cartels steal oil from state pipelines, generating between $1 billion and $3 billion in annual revenue. They also extort farmers involved in legal industries like the avocado trade, nicknamed “green gold”, a business valued at over $3 billion annually which has attracted significant cartel activity.
  • Other Crimes: Cartels are also involved in weapons trafficking, money laundering through legitimate businesses, and various scams like timeshare fraud. 

Overall, the illegal drug trade is a massive global black market industry, estimated to be worth between $426 billion and $652 billion globally. Cartel earnings are difficult to pinpoint precisely because they operate in the shadows and do not file tax returns. These figures are generally derived from reverse-engineered data such as street values, drug-consumption rates, and cash repatriation figures.