“Cartel hits” refer to assassinations or killings carried out by drug cartels, often involving violent clashes between rival organizations or the targeting of law enforcement and civilians. These events can result in a high number of casualties, such as the 2012 clash between the Zetas and Beltrán-Leyva Organizationremnants in Mexico, which resulted in at least 32 confirmed deaths,

Several prominent Mexican cartels are known for their family-based structures, including the 

Arellano-Félix family who founded the Tijuana Cartel, the Beltrán-Leyva family who founded the Beltrán Leyva Organization, and the Guzmán family within the Sinaloa Cartel. Other powerful cartels like La Familia Michoacana and Los Zetas have also had family ties, though some have splintered or been dismantled. 

Examples of families in Mexican cartels

• Arellano-Félix family: This family was a major force behind the Tijuana Cartel, which was once one of Mexico’s largest criminal organizations.
• Beltrán-Leyva family: The Beltrán Leyva Organization was founded by the five Beltrán Leyva brothers and was once one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico.
• Guzmán family: The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most dominant cartels today, includes high-ranking members from the Guzmán family, such as Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and his sons.
• La Familia Michoacana: This cartel, based in the state of Michoacán, was founded by Carlos Rosales Mendoza, a close associate of another cartel leader.
• Other cartels: Other cartels, like Los Zetas, have also had family connections. For example, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has been involved in battles over territory with the Sinaloa Cartel and the remnants of the Tijuana Cartel. 
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  The structure of major Mexican drug trafficking organizations often involves 
  familial ties and dynasties. Many cartels originated as networks of families, often farmers, who began smuggling drugs, and leadership roles are frequently passed down or fought over by family members. 
  Key examples of this dynamic include:
  
  Sinaloa Cartel
  “Los Chapitos”: The sons of imprisoned former leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera—Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar—currently lead a major faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.
  Guzmán Loera family: Various members of the extended family have been involved in the cartel’s operations, with US and Mexican authorities targeting them for their roles in drug trafficking and money laundering.
  Zambada family: The other primary faction was historically led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada (arrested in 2024), with various family members and loyalists involved in his operations.
  Favela Lopez family: The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned members of this family and their associated companies for supplying precursor chemicals to the Sinaloa Cartel’s Los Chapitos faction. 
  
  Tijuana Cartel (Arellano Félix Organization) 
  Arellano Félix family: This cartel has historically been a family-run organization. Leadership roles have been held by several siblings, including Benjamin, Francisco Rafael, and Eduardo. Enedina Arellano Félix is a current leader, and her nephew, Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano, was also involved. 
  
  Beltrán-Leyva Organization 
  Beltrán-Leyva brothers: This cartel was established and run by four brothers (Arturo, Alfredo, Carlos, and Hector) before they either died or were captured. 
  The use of family structures provides a level of inherent trust and secrecy for criminal enterprises. However, these ties also lead to violent internal power struggles and shifts in leadership following arrests or deaths, contributing to the fluid and often fragmented nature of organized crime in Mexico today. Governments target these networks by sanctioning both the individuals and their associated businesses, as detailed in reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice. 
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  Beyond leadership roles, women in Mexican cartels perform a diverse range of functions spanning logistics, finance, enforcement, and support, often starting in low-level, high-risk positions due to socio-economic vulnerability
  . 
  Women’s involvement in Mexican cartels is complex and multifaceted. Their roles can evolve over time and are influenced by individual circumstances, cartel structures, and regional dynamics. While some women may be involved due to coercion or socio-economic factors, others may participate voluntarily for a variety of reasons. Their roles are not static and can shift depending on the needs of the organization and their own changing situations.