Mexican Cartels Exploit Technology, Outpacing Authorities

Organized crime groups in Mexico have systematically integrated advanced technologies to optimize their illicit operations. According to an investigation by SILIKN, this technological adoption has generated a notable asymmetry in capabilities when compared to government institutions, redefining the landscape for national and regional security.

The transformation of cartels into technologically sophisticated entities reflects an evolution of their operating model. They no longer function exclusively as drug trafficking networks but as diversified corporations that require technical specialization to maximize efficiency and profitability, reports SILIKN.

"We have to understand that cartels are no longer organizations in which people are selling drugs on the street; there are specialists in accounting for money laundering, chemical engineers for drug production, and they have included programmers [and] AI experts to potentiate their operations and profits," says Juan Manuel Aguilar, Professor, Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM), to Expansión.

Unlike government entities, which are subject to budget cycles, criminal organizations have access to billions of dollars in liquidity, says Victor Ruiz, Founder, SILIKN. This allows them to make immediate investments in cutting-edge technology.

“Cybercriminal organizations operate with remarkable business efficiency... This sophistication in operation and the increasing diversification of attacks, such as ransomware and phishing, illustrate the vast scope and complexity of cybercrime on a global scale, which continues to expand rapidly and affect an increasing number of targets,” IT User reports.

This financial capacity facilitates the acquisition of advanced equipment, such as armed drones, military-grade signal jammers, spyware, and hacking kits, often obtained through the dark web. At the same time, these organizations actively recruit specialized personnel, including developers, engineers, and cybersecurity experts, from both national and international pools to design custom malware, conduct espionage campaigns, and manage their digital infrastructure.

The result is a technological race in which the criminal sector advances at an accelerated pace, while the state's response is hindered by bureaucratic and resource constraints.

AI and Emerging Technologies

AI, particularly generative and Large Language Models (LLMs), has become a central tool. It is used to create deepfakes to impersonate identities, facilitating high-credibility financial fraud and extortion. Insight Crime reports that fake AI-generated images are being used to defraud families of missing migrants.

AI is also used to automate and optimize phishing campaigns and to perform predictive data analysis. According to Aguilar, this allows cartels to study law enforcement patterns and optimize trafficking routes, a method known as smart routing, to minimize the likelihood of interception.

Other emerging technologies had also magnified the cartels' physical capabilities, such as drones, which are now used for territory surveillance and for transporting narcotics, reports SILIKN. The use of military-grade signal jammers also allows for the neutralization of communications and surveillance drones used by authorities.

Cryptocurrencies are also in the eye of the storm. Coins such as Bitcoin, Tether, and Monero have become a primary vehicle for money laundering. An analysis by SILIKN’s research unit reports a 55.8% increase in cryptocurrency transactions linked to drug trafficking activities in “previous years.” These platforms offer a degree of anonymity and decentralization that complicates tracking by financial authorities. The coordination of operations, including the sale of weapons and stolen data, takes place on the dark web and through messaging applications with enhanced encryption.

To counteract this asymmetry, SILINK calls for a proactive strategy that includes:

• Investment in cyber defense: Allocating greater resources to AI tools, big data analysis, and the monitoring of digital asset transactions.

• Human capital formation: Creating programs to recruit and train professionals in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and ethical hacking, offering competitive compensation.

• Updated regulatory framework: Developing specific legislation to combat the use of deepfakes and malware, and to regulate the sale of dual-use technologies.