SUMMARY

The Gulf Cartel - Ramirez Treviño faction is a splinter group from the Gulf Cartel, named after its leader Mario Armando Ramirez-Treviño. The Gulf Cartel is made up of numerous factions and gangs, and forces loyal to Ramirez-Treviños fought against another such faction in March 2013.

Ramirez Treviño, also known as X-20 and Pelón (the bald one), is a ranking member of the Gulf Cartel and one of the local leaders in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. He, reportedly, is a former police officer who became a drug addict and started working with the Gulf Cartel.

Ramirez-Treviño is loyal to Los Metros, a gang tied to the Gulf Cartel. Los Metros has a long-standing dispute with another gang under the Gulf Cartel umbrella, Los Rojos, fighting for the control of the cartel. Traditionally, Los Metros were based in Matamoros while Los Rojos ruled Reynosa.

Ramirez-Treviño was arrested in August 2013 and transferred to a prison in Mexico City. Before his arrest, some said that he was the new leader of the Gulf Cartel. This was, however, disputed.

Gulf Cartel – Ramirez Treviño faction has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.