The “tentacles” of the notorious Mexican drug cartel “Jalisco Nueva Generación” appear to have reached Europe and Greece several years ago.

Specifically, well-documented incidents appeared in local police reports that were linked to the specific Mexican cartel. The latter emerged on international spotlight following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” who had been Mexico’s most wanted man.

Since 2012

According to a report by Mega Channel, the first reference to the notorious Mexican cartel in local police reports was recorded on June 23, 2012. On that date, a leading member of the cartel was arrested at the Athens International Airport.

A few months later, on Nov. 20, 2012, the body of a 31-year-old Greek-Canadian man was found in the Keratea district, southeast of Athens proper. According to authorities, the perpetrators drugged the victim, tied him up, strangled him to death and burned the body.

The victim reportedly had connections to the Jalisco-based cartel.

Two years later, on Nov. 5, 2014, a Mexican national was arrested in the upscale coastal seaside municipality of Voula. Reports at the time referred to a “drug baron” accused of importing 230 kilos of cocaine from South America.

On March 18, 2023, a top member of the cartel gang “Los Chapitos” was arrested at the Athens Airport after arriving from Austria. The suspect had a one-million-dollar bounty for his capture issued by the United States.

Finally, on Nov. 18, 2025, 20 members of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación were identified in Spain, with indications of networks linked to El Mencho’s associates operating throughout Europe.