The Gulf Cartel, known as the **Cártel del Golfo (CDG)**, is one of the oldest and most notorious organized crime groups in Mexico. Founded in the 1930s by Juan Nepomuceno Guerra, it initially focused on smuggling alcohol during the Prohibition era. Over time, it evolved into a powerful drug trafficking organization, becoming prominent in the 1980s under Juan García Ábrego's leadership. García Ábrego expanded the cartel's operations by forming alliances with Colombian drug traffickers, shifting its focus to cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana[1][2]. The Gulf Cartel's influence peaked in the 1990s, controlling significant drug trafficking routes across the U.S.-Mexico border. However, after García Ábrego's arrest in 1996, the cartel restructured under Osiel Cárdenas Guillen's leadership. This period also saw the formation of **Los Zetas** in 1997 as the cartel's enforcement arm, known for its brutal tactics and organizational structure[2][3]. Today, the Gulf Cartel operates a wide range of criminal activities, including protection rackets, assassinations, extortions, kidnappings, and migrant smuggling. It maintains a strong presence in Matamoros and Reynosa, although its control over Tamaulipas has been challenged by Los Zetas since 2010[5]. The cartel's international network extends to Europe, West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the United States, making it a significant player in global organized crime[2]. Notable aspects of the Gulf Cartel include its strategic location across from Brownsville, Texas, and its role in shaping Mexico's drug war. Despite fragmentation into smaller factions, the cartel remains a powerful force in the region's criminal landscape[5]. Its history and activities underscore the complex challenges faced by law enforcement in both Mexico and the U.S. in combating trans