The presence of large criminal organizations such as the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has profoundly shaped the dynamics of violence and insecurity in Salamanca and other areas of the Bajío region of Mexico. These groups compete for control of distribution routes, fuel theft, and the expansion of their criminal networks, generating constant clashes and tragedies in the region.
Although it began as a mid-sized organization specializing in fuel theft in Guanajuato, the CSRL has managed to remain active despite setbacks and the capture of its founder, José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, “El Marro.” Part of its survival is explained by a combination of strategies that have strengthened its criminal structure:
Support networks and alliances: It has established links with other groups, such as factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, to receive weapons and logistical support, as well as with the Gulf Cartel to channel stolen fuel to wider markets.
Diversification of businesses: Although fuel theft was its initial driving force, the CSRL has expanded its activities to include extortion and drug trafficking, reinforcing its flow of resources.
Deep-rooted local presence: Its ties to local gangs and corruption networks have allowed it to maintain influence in key municipalities like Salamanca, even in the face of pressure from the CJNG.
Furthermore, despite El Marro being in prison, reports from U.S. authorities indicate that he continues to exert influence over the organization through messages transmitted from jail, and that the group continues to be internationally sanctioned for its role in fuel smuggling.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has grown to become one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the country, with a strong firepower and resources superior to many of its rivals. In Guanajuato—including Salamanca—its strategy has been to penetrate territories controlled by regional groups such as the CSRL, which has unleashed a war for control of fuel theft routes, drugs, and other illicit economies.
