SUMMARY
Los Caballeros Templarios, “The Knights Templar” was a drug trafficking cartel in Mexico. The group was formed in March 2011, following the believed death of La Familia Michoacana leader Nazario "El Chayo" Moreno-Gonzalez in December 2010. Large parts of La Familia consequently split into the Caballeros Templarios, which was founded by former La Familia Cartel members, Servando "La Tuta" Gómez Martínez, and Enrique "La Chiva" Plancarte Solís. By the end of 2011 it was reported that the Caballeros Templarios faction was far more powerful in the narcotics trafficking business than its rival faction, the remnants of La Familia. The same year, Los Caballeros Templarios reportedly formed an alliance with the Sinaloa Cartel in order to rout out the remnants of La Familia cartel.
Like their predecessors, the cartel presented themselves as a “self-defense” group committed to fighting the big cartels. The group has from time to time accentuated the religious overtones that were also visible in La Familia. They have used propaganda to advertise themselves as a protector of the population of Michoacán State from other criminal groups. Los Caballeros Templarios mainly operated in Michoacán state, as well as other parts of the Tierra Caliente region. However, the group has also been active throughout central Mexico, in particular in the states of Guanajuato, Morelos and Guerrero. In addition, they have taken part in the dispute over the Mexico state.
Los Caballeros Templarios were known to be violent, and at one point, they controlled drug trafficking in large parts of Michoacán state. Additionally, the group was involved in criminal activities such as extortion of businesses in their areas of influence, kidnapping, manufacturing of synthetic drugs, money laundering, and human trafficking.
Over the years, the cartel met heavy opposition, and decreased in size since its most powerful days in the early 2010’s. Its leaders have since fallen one by one. "El Chayo" Moreno and "Kike" Plancarte were killed by federal forces in 2014, while "La Tuta" was arrested in 2015.
In June 2017, one of the last alleged leaders of Los Caballeros Templarios, Ignacio Renteria Andrade, alias “El Cenizo,” was arrested by Mexican security forces in Michoacán. The same year, the leader Pablo "El 500" Toscano Padilla and his lieutenant Ezequiel "El Cheques" Castaneda were reported to have been killed by remnants of La Familia Michoacana. Following these events, many believed that Los Caballeros Templarios have ceased to exist. However, in 2020, the group remained active throughout southern Mexico, in areas of Michoacán and Guerrero, resisting the attempted territorial expansion of groups such as the Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG). The cartel was then allegedly led by a man referred to as Don José, and allied with their old enemy, La Familia Michoacana, in order not to go extinct.
Los Caballeros Templarios has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.
