MEMBERS-ONLY PODCAST Organized crime in Mexico is centered on the transit of illegal drugs into the United States. In essence, Mexican organized crime groups are supply chain entities, competing for suppliers in Central and South America, rapid and low-friction transit routes in Mexico and across borders and consumers in the United States. Competition among the major Mexican cartels is about geography — access to and control of the most lucrative trade paths. This competition leads to wars between cartels, which can spill over into the civilian population. The cartels generally try to avoid confrontations with law enforcement and the military in Mexico and instead seek to mitigate their security risks through bribery, extortion, threats and incentives.