SUMMARY

Following the split of the influential La Familia Michoacana in 2010 from which the group Los Caballeros Templarios emerged, José de Jesús "El Chango" Méndez Vargas became the leader of the remnants of La Familia. He was captured in 2011, and subsequently many believed that the cartel had gone extinct. The disappearance of the original La Familia allowed the newly created Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) to grow rapidly. However, La Familia Michoacana had not been as absent as the Jalisco cartel wanted people to believe, and although they had suffered severe losses in terms of leadership, the group remained active. Over the years, the two cartels have seen waves of rivalry mixed with temporary alliances.

The conflict between the cartels concerned control over territory. They were both involved in activities related to drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping. The fight for control and survival has been recorded in states such as Morelos, Michoacán, Guerrero and mainly Mexico State. In Mexico State, La Familia Michoacana, has held dominance in the south of the state and the Jalisco Cartel Nueva Generación has fought for control in the Valley of Mexico, the municipalities surrounding the capital, Mexico City.

As part of the turf war, the groups directed threats towards the rival group, through the display of so-called narcomantas, public banners signed by the cartels. In addition, members of La Familia Michoacana and the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel would frequently use social media to publish videos containing threats to attack each other in disputed communities.

From time to time, the groups have instead been allied, and operated in partnership. For example, the Jalisco Cartel New Generation established itself in Michoacán with the help of La Familia, and in turn, La Familia Michoacana” re-emerged in the same state as well as Guerrero state with the backing of the CJNG.

The non-state conflict between the Jalisco Cartel New Generation and La Familia Michoacana was first included in UCDP data in 2018. In October of that year, clashes between the cartels had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.