Mexican authorities, with U.S. support, have been waging a battle against the powerful criminal gangs for two decades. Still, thousands die in the conflict every year.A member of the Prosecutor's Office stands guard near a burning bus after it was set on fire by organized crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, on Feb. 22.Ulises Ruiz / AFP via Getty Images fileMay 19, 2026, 5:07 PM EDT / Updated May 19, 2026, 5:37 PM EDTBy CFR EditorsThis article was originally published on CFR.org and updated by NBC News.Violence continues to rage some two decades after the Mexican government launched a war against drug cartels, fueling ongoing instability and challenging U.S.-Mexico security cooperation.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.
Mexico’s long war: drugs, crime, and the cartels
Mexican authorities, with U.S. support, have been waging a battle against the powerful criminal gangs for two decades. Still, thousands die in the conflict every year.
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