cartel's

Mr. Méndez took over leadership of the La Familia gang, a cult-like group that used a mixture of violence and good works to generate local support, after federal forces killed the cartel's messianic founder, Nazario Moreno, in December.

Police Arrest Chief of La Familia Cartel David Luhnow 2011

The cartel's tight grip on the city was shattered by the death of its regional commander, Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, in a shootout with federal police in July 2010.

26 bodies found in abandoned vehicles in Mexico 2011

Excluded for now from the cartel's quota system, Iraq wants to increase output from its reserves, the world's fourth largest, according to BP.

OPEC's Passive Aggressive Oil-Price Problem Liam Denning 2011

Authorities said a rival of the cartel's was beaten to death in one case in Little Rock, Ark., and two other men were lured to a house in Richmond where they were beaten.

22 indicted in fake document ring 2011

Saudi Arabia reportedly is willing to pump more without the cartel's blessings.

Oil touches $100 a barrel, raising concern about recovery 2011

Indeed, Saudi Arabia's desire for a united front in raising quotas likely has more to do with preserving the cartel's credibility for the next time it needs to rein in output to bolster energy markets.

OPEC Acts Like Dallas Cowboys Liam Denning 2011

Saudi Arabia's failure to find consensus among OPEC members to lift production shows that political tension in the Middle East may have the power to affect the kingdom's ability to dominate the cartel's decisions.

Political Tensions in the Middle East Appear to Undercut Saudis' Role Summer Said 2011

The biggest strike against Sinaloa was the death of Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, the cartel's reputed No. 3 capo, who was killed in a July 2010 gunfight with soldiers in Guadalajara.

Meet El Chapo, The 'Most Powerful Drug Trafficker In The World' AP 2011

It's possible the cartel's differences could be resolved through informal discussions before it meets again.

New Cracks in Oil Cartel Summer Said 2011

Mr. Allen said the arrests likely hampered the cartel's ability to move large quantities of drugs from Mexico's northwestern state of Sinaloa, where marijuana and opium poppies are grown.

Scores Arrested in Bust of $2 Billion Arizona Drug Ring Miriam Jordan 2011