The Sinaloa Cartel is a Mexican drug-trafficking organization and transnational organized-crime syndicate based in Culiacán, in the state of Sinaloa. Its activities include illegal drug trafficking, money laundering and murder.

In the news context, the cartel is identified as one of two major Mexican cartels present in Costa Rica. A researcher cited in the report said that interest in new routes and rivalry between the major Mexican cartels contributed to local proxies fighting, amid rising homicides in the country.