Jones, Nathan P.Chindea, IrinaWeisz-Argomedo, DanielSullivan, John P.2023-04-052023-04-052022Jones, Nathan P., Chindea, Irina, Weisz-Argomedo, Daniel, et al.. "Mexico’s 2021 Dark Network Alliance Structure: An Exploratory Social Network Analysis of Lantia Consultores' Illicit Network Alliance and Subgroup Data." (2022) James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy: https://doi.org/10.25613/KMGB-NC83.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/114788This paper assesses Mexico’s organized crime alliance and subgroup network structures. Through social network analysis (SNA) of data from Lantia Consultores, a consulting firm in Mexico that specializes in the analysis of public policies, it demonstrates differential alliance structures within Mexico’s bipolar illicit network system. The Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación’s (CJNG) alliance structure is top-down and hierarchical, while the Sinaloa Cartel is denser, particularly in the broader Tierra Caliente region. Additionally, our analysis found a sparse overall network with many isolates (organized criminal groups with no relations to other groups) and disconnected components. Further, we identified organized crime networks that might fill future power vacuums based on their network positions, following state or rival high-value targeting of major cartels. The implications of these findings are discussed, and policy recommendations are provided.© 2022 Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public PolicyResearch paperusmx-pub-dark-network-041122