Los Zetas, one of the most notorious cartels which normalized the paramilitary aesthetics and functions of cartels, was founded by School of the Americas graduates.

The DFS is a former Mexican intelligence agency that oversaw the assassinations and torture of communists and supposed communists. It was founded by the CIA, and partially funded and trained by the CIA. Several members later went on to use their training and field experience to start their own cartels as well. One of which led to the creation of el chapo