SEATTLE - Powerful cartels continue to be fully in control of major western ports in Mexico, as they are a critical part of the infrastructure of groups such as the Sinaloa cartel, which uses them to receive precursor chemicals and South American cocaine for trafficking into the United States, according to a report by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
In its May report, the DEA said that the port of Mazatlán was wholly controlled by the Sinaloa cartel and that they charged other drug trafficking organizations to use the port.
