Las Almas Cartel

The Las Almas Cartel is a powerful drug cartel featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Led by El Sin Nombre, the cartel controls the region of Las Almas. They also smuggled goods for terrorist groups, including Al-Qatala.
==History==
===Founding===
Before the cartel was established, Las Almas was plagued by the La Araña Cartel, which was led by the son of La Araña. At some point, the Mexican's launched a raid against the son of La Araña to arrest him. The Fuerzas Especiales RED team was tasked to cordon off the city to prevent any bloodshed against the civilian population during the raid. However, several members of the RED team, including Valeria Garza, were secretly enforcers for the La Araña Cartel. Turning against their own, the RED team escorted the son of La Araña to the mountains and executed him.
Having created a power vacuum, Valeria established the Las Almas Cartel, becoming its leader under the nickname El Sin Nombre. To gain public support, the cartel built infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and roads. The cartel continued to bribe officers from the Mexican Army and police forces for protection, recruiting ex-soldiers as enforcers.
===Smuggling American Missiles===
At some point, the cartel began smuggling goods around the world for terrorist groups like Al-Qatala knowing that as long as , the United States would be too distracted to take a hardline approach toward on . As part of their deal with Al-Qatala, Las Almas smuggled two ballistic missiles to the United States and helped Hassan Zyani crossing the border between Mexico and Texas right before Alejandro Vargas and Rodolfo Parra of the Los Vaqueros could intercept him. The two operatives also crossed the border but were unable to retrieve Hassan, who fled back to Mexico.
The cartel continued to protect Hassan in Las Almas, with the help of rogue elements of the Mexican Army, as Los Vaqueros and Task Force 141 assaulted a cartel compound to capture Hassan. Hassan was already gone, and many members of Los Vaqueros were killed before they were saved by Phillip Graves' Shadow Company. The private military company used a AC-130 to assist the two teams in capturing Hassan from another cartel compound and stop an ambush from the cartel.
===Apprehension of El Sin Nombre===
However, Hassan was let go and disappeared. Two days later, Los Vaqueros, Task Force 141, and Shadow Company began searching for El Sin Nombre to get information about Hassan and the missile's whereabouts. Johnny "Soap" MacTavish entered the mansion of a cartel lieutenant, Diego Salgado, claiming he had information about the recent attacks against the cartel. He was brought to Valeria, who posed as a sicaria, and revealed what happened. With the help of Vargas, they reached the room where El Sin Nombre was said to be and realized it was Valeria. Shaken, Vargas was startled by the revelation, as both served together. The two then assaulted the room, killing Salgado, Valeria tried to escape, but was captured by Graves.
Valeria was brought to the Fuerzas Especiales headquarters and made a deal with Graves, revealing that one of the missiles was brought to an abandoned oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico occupied by Al-Qatala. The different teams launched an assault against the rig and successfully destroyed the missile.
Not long after, Graves and Shadow Company took charge of the operation under the order of General Shepherd hunting down not only Hassan but also Los Vaqueros and Task Force 141. Shadow Company began executing anyone affiliated with the Las Almas cartel including sicarios and bribed police officers, taking and separating children from their parents, as well as burning their houses.
Los Vaqueros and Task Force 141 formed the JTF - Ghost Team and launched an assault against the Shadow Company headquarters, destroying Graves' tank, and retrieving Valeria. As she was sent away, Valeria claimed she was going to be freed in less than a day and challenged Los Vaqueros to prove she did anything.
===New Operation===
In April 2023, Valeria was broken out of a Mexican prison by members of her Cartel, leading Vargas to pursue her. She soon launched a new operation in Al Mazrah and the Las Almas Cartel occupied the Hafid Port, despite efforts to counter them. The Las Almas Cartel, supported by Al Qatala, were contracted by Konni Group to feign discovering the buried entrances to the Koschei Complex in Rohan Oil, Al Mazrah City and Taraq Village. Shadow Company's "Phantom-5" sniper team, tasked with surveying the Cartel's activities, were later eliminated following their discovery of these entrances.
In August 2023, all Cartel members vacated the Koschei Complex and Hafid Port as Konni Group invaded Al Mazrah. Following Operation Rogue Arsenal, Konni's employer: Milena Romanova brokered a deal with the Las Almas Cartel, tasking them in distributing the stolen gas from Vondel to other places across the globe.
==Arsenal==
===Assault Rifles===
*Kastov 762
*M16
*Kastov-74u 
*M4 
*Kastov 545
===Submachine Guns===
*Lachman Sub
*MX9
*Minibak
*VEL 46
===Light Machine Guns===
*RPK 
*RAPP H
*556 Icarus
*Minigun
===Rifles===
*SP-R 208
===Sniper Rifles===
*MCPR-300
===Handguns===
*X12
*.50 GS
===Launchers===
*RPG-7
*RGL-80
===Vehicles===
*Light Helo
*UH-60 Blackhawk
*Hatchback (Commandeered)
*Chop Top (Commandeered)
*Cargo Truck
==Gallery==
LasAlmasCartel FirstEncounter MWII.png|Price and Gaz's first encounter with the Cartel.
Price Searching a Cartel Member MWII.png|Price sees the tattoo of a Cartel member.
LasAlmasCartel Guard MWII.png|Cartel Guard in Amsterdam.
LasAlmasCartel Guard2 MWII.png|Another Guard checking the sound at the alleyway.
LasAlmasCartel Member MWII.jpg
LasAlmasCartel Member2 MWII.jpg
LasAlmasCartel Member3 MWII.jpg
LasAlmasCartel Member4 MWII.jpg
LasAlmasCartel Member5 MWII.png
LasAlmasCartel Member6 MWII.png
LasAlmasCartel Member8 MWII.png
LasAlmasCartel Member7 MWII.png
LasAlmasCartel Juggernaut MWII.png|Cartel's Special Forces.
LasAlmasCartel Gate Guards MWII.jpg|Cartel Guards at the gate of Diego's Mansion.
LasAlmasCartel Member Diego MWII.jpg|Cartel Member talking to Diego Salgado.
Cartel Break Valeria Out SeasonThree MWII.jpg|Cartel troops break Valeria out of prison.
LasAlmasCartel Special Forces 2 MWII.jpeg|Cartel Special Forces 2
File:Las Almas Cartel Special Forces 3 MWII.jpeg|Cartel Special Forces 3
Category:Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Factions