MEXICO · SECURITY
Key Facts
- What is happening The Jalisco cartel, local group Los Mezcales and Sinaloa factions reportedly contest influence near Manzanillo port, but these are allegations.
- Why it matters Manzanillo is Mexico’s busiest container port, so security there touches importers, shippers and drug-enforcement efforts that involve the United States.
- The numbers The port moved 3,893,357 container units in 2025, and federal figures show Colima’s homicides fell 25% between September 2024 and February 2026.
- Who is who Omar García Harfuch is Mexico’s security secretary. Los Mezcales, also called the Independent Cartel of Colima, is a local group, and the Navy guards the port.
- What to watch Whether Navy and state operations keep cartels away from the port, and whether Colima’s violence keeps falling after the March federal report.
- What it means for you No disruption to cargo handling has been announced. US firms and travelers should watch State Department notices because Washington lists the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels as terrorist groups.
- Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
Rival criminal groups are reported around Manzanillo, Mexico’s busiest container port. The security secretary says the disputes are mainly between very local groups.
Several criminal groups are competing for influence around Manzanillo, a Pacific port in Colima state. It handled close to 3.9 million container units in 2025, the most of any Mexican port.
The security secretary named Los Mezcales, a local group, and press reports add the Jalisco cartel (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel factions. The Navy guards the port, and the claims about each group are allegations.
Who Is Fighting Over the Port
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the best-known group, and Washington lists it as a foreign terrorist organization. The Sinaloa Cartel carries the same US designation.
Los Mezcales, also called the Independent Cartel of Colima, is a local group that reportedly emerged after a split in 2022. Its role at the port is alleged, not proven.
Press reports also name La Mayiza, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, in the conflict. Officials have not confirmed reports of an alliance between it and Los Mezcales.
What Officials Say
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s security secretary, said on Friday 13 March that Colima’s disputes are mainly between very local groups. He named Los Mezcales at a morning press conference held in Manzanillo.
He called the port a drug-trafficking route and said the Navy has made major seizures there under President Claudia Sheinbaum. The government said the Navy seized more than three tons of cocaine from a vessel with three foreign crew members.
The federal security cabinet said on 13 March that Colima’s homicides fell 25% between September 2024 and February 2026. It also counted 2,790 arrests for high-impact crimes from 1 October 2024 to 10 March 2026.
Why the Port Matters to Trade
Manzanillo handled 3,893,357 TEUs in 2025, according to figures from the port authority. A TEU is a standard 20-foot shipping container, the usual unit for port traffic.
No disruption to cargo handling has been announced. The Navy and Colima’s security ministry coordinate patrols and investigations around the port, officials say.
What It Means for You
Shippers and importers that use Manzanillo should watch for any change in inspections or customs rules. None has been announced.
Because Washington lists the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels as terrorist organizations, US firms face extra legal risk if payments reach them. Travelers to Colima and Manzanillo should check US State Department advice before booking.
See also Mexico Arrests Mando 20 Over Car Bomb and Colima Safety 2026. More is on the Mexico hub and the Guadalajara city page.
What Is Not Known
No casualty or incident figures tied to the port dispute have been published. Officials have not said how many people each group has in the area.
The reports naming the groups rest on press accounts, not a public federal document. Alliances between Los Mezcales and Sinaloa factions remain unconfirmed.
What Comes Next
The Navy and Colima’s state security ministry say they will keep investigating networks and executing arrest warrants. Arrests and seizures at the port are the next signals to watch.
The next federal security report on Colima should show whether homicides keep falling. It will not by itself show who controls the port.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is fighting over Manzanillo port?
The security secretary named Los Mezcales, a local group. Press reports add the Jalisco cartel and Sinaloa Cartel factions, which are allegations.
Why is Manzanillo port important?
It handled 3,893,357 container units in 2025, the most of any Mexican port. Importers and exporters across Mexico rely on it.
Is cargo at Manzanillo affected?
No disruption to cargo handling has been announced. The Navy guards the port and coordinates with Colima’s state security ministry.
Does the United States treat these cartels as terrorists?
Washington designated the Jalisco and Sinaloa cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in February 2025. The label brings extra sanctions and legal risk for companies.
Sources: Mexican Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat; National Public Security System (SESNSP); Mexican Navy (Semar); Manzanillo Port Authority (ASIPONA); US State Department; security press conference in Manzanillo of 13 March 2026; Mexican national and regional press (all accessed 3 November 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief