Violence and migration dynamics are reshaping Tapachula, a city on Mexico's southern border, according to an in-depth piece by InSight Crime. Once dominated by Central American street gangs like MS13 and Barrio 18, Tapachula is now under the control of powerful Mexican drug cartels: the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG). This shift reflects broader criminal influences and the evolving role of the city as a crucial hub for migration and drug trafficking.
The outlet tells the story of Poison and Malandro, former gang rivals from El Salvador and Honduras respectively, to illustrate the complex transformation in Tapachula. Both fled gang violence in their home countries and now live in a migrant shelter in Tapachula. Despite their past affiliations with MS13 and Barrio 18, they find themselves subordinate to the local drug traffickers.
