The Mendez Cartel was a very powerful drug cartel operating out of Vice City in the early 80's, until 1984. The Mendez Cartel also owns the mansion on Prawn Island that is eventually taken over by the Sharks in between 1984 and 1986. Diego and Armando Mendez are the two most powerful drug kingpins and well known philanthropists in Vice City circa 1984, and the heads of their own crime organization, The Mendez Cartel when the events of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories takes place.
Diego is the more quiet of the two and only speaks Spanish, while the more charismatic Armando is the one with greater control of the organization. Armando seems to take many influences from Alejandro Sosa, from the Scarface movie. The Mendez Cartel members are depicted as wearing suits, with light colored shirts underneath, as well as having a notable moustache or ponytails. It's possible that it was the most powerful criminal organization at the time, but when their leaders were killed, the Diaz cartel quickly seized most of the drug trade in the city.
Battle vs. Falcone Crime Families (by AnnhilationNation)
Mendez: 
Falcone: 
The setting is Prawn Island, in 1984 Vice City, as Armando Mendez was telling his men about a drug shipment they were about to recieve from the Dominican Republic. Unaware, there were two 1940's Studebakers rolling up onto the lot. Out came Vito Scaletta, and four other suits. Vito weilded a Luger, while two of his boys had Grease Guns, and the other two held Thompsons.
They started to walk towards the mansion, as Diego held up his finger, hearing them. Armando readied his his Beretta, as all three crew members ready their Skorpions. As the Falcones walkied in, the first one, who was weilding a Thompson was riddled with Skorpion bullets, and a few from the Beretta (5-4)
"Hijo de puta!" Diego said, as he ran from the table, as the other three were about to, however, the other mobster weilding a Tommy Gun sprayed, and killed off one of the Skorpion weilders. (4-4)
The Mendez Brothers scrambled, both seperated, going out to the backyard, to regroup. Diego and his crew member head towards his shed, where he kept his favored weapon. Diego runs down hsi back porch steps, as the crew member stayed behind. The Mendez soldier managed to shoot one of the men weilding an M3 Grease Gun, before he got to the boss. (4-3) However, his celebration was short, as he was almsot divided in half by Tommy Gun fire. (3-3)
Diego entered his shed, and found his trademark flamethrower. After all... his favorite style of execution is incineration. The Falcone family member, who was weildign the Tommy Gun was creeping towards the door of the shack, as he opened it, only to recieve a spray of flames, engulfing him, as the Falcone mobster's brains were boiling inside. (3-2) Diego then headed to the gunshots he heard, to assist his brother, Armando.
Meanwhile, inside the house, both Vito and his other mobster were behind a table, as Armando and his other henchman were behind a personal bar, both having a drawn out gunfight. The Skorpion member popped up, however, the M3 had superior accuracy, as he managed to shoot him enough times to kill him off. (2-2) however, the heat of flames was approaching, as both the mobsters felt the heat of flames approaching. They scrambled away from the flames, as Diego was approaching down the hall. Vito then seen a small glimpse of the fuel tank hanging from below his facial shield. The two sprayed blind shots, until Vito managed to hit it with his Luger, causing the flamethrower to explode, sending Diego up in flames. (1-2)
The M3 weilder whooped in joy, however, it was cut short by two bullets into hsi chest, from Armando's Beretta. (1-1) Vito tried to fire back, but he was out of rounds, as a click was heard. Armando laughed and said... "You should have known better..." He says, as he hears the click of an empty click. Armando smirked, as he kept a hammer underneath teh bar, and equipped it, before heading towards Vito with malice. Vito reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out an ice pick, as they were about to duel. Armando tried a high swing, as Vito ducked, causing the head to break through the drywall of their mansion. Vito tried a stab, however, Armando tucked himself in, and went for a swipe with teh claw end, however, Vito dodged that as well. Armando screamed as he went fro an overhead smash, wantign to crush Vito's head, however, his arm was caught by Vito's free hand, as he put the ice pick into Armando's ear and whispered... "The don sends his regards..." before pushing the ice pick directly into his brain. (0-1)
As Armando fell dead, Vito started to walk out of the mansion, as it caught fire. He lost the asset he was trying to gain, but he is pleased at surviving...
WINNER: Falcone Crime Families
Expert's Opinion
The Falcones were victorious, because not only did they have the intimidation factor, they also had weapons which were equally efficient, unlike the Mendez Cartel.
To see the original battle, weapons and votes, click here.
Battle vs. Los Zetas Cartel (by KevlarNinja)
Mendez
At a Mexican port, Diego and Armando Mendez and three other members of the Mendez Cartel are visiting from Vice City to pick up a package. They go over to a nearby crate. One of them opens the crate with a crowbar. Inside is about $10,000 worth of cocaine inside. Armando says "Diego, please bring our new product onto the yacht." Diego nods and walks over to a nearby crane. At the same time, a group of Los Zetas enter the port. They came for the crate too, and they are not leaving without it. One Los Zetas aims his AR-15 and shoots a Mendez in the back of the head.
Mendez
The Mendez turn there heads and see there attackers. Diego jumps into the boat for safety. Armando runs for cover behind the crane. Gunfire and thugs on both sides shouting in spanish fill the salty air. One Mendez thug wielding an AK-47 hits the AR-15 Los Zetas in the chest.
One Los Zetas with a MP5 cuts the AK Mendez down to size.
Mendez
Armando cocks his Beretta M9 and shoots the MP5 Los Zetas.
One Los Zetas picks up his fallen friend's MP5. He and a second Los Zetas run ahead. The first Los Zetas knocks Armando out and shoots a second Mendez thug. The thug's body makes a loud splash as it hit's the water.
Mendez
The first Los Zetas runs over to the back of the boat, well the second one jumps onto the front and breaks into a window. The first Los Zetas looks for more Mendez, when Diego lights him up with his flamethrower! The thug drops his gun, screaming. He jumps overboard, but, because of the shock, the thug soon drowns.
Diego smirks, but is soon shot in the head by the other thug's Glock 19.
Mendez
A bullet just misses the thug. It was from Armando's Beretta. The two fire back and forth, just each keeps dodging the other's bullet. Soon, there both run out of ammo. Armando picks up a hammer and runs toward the thug. The thug pistol whips Armando, but Armando delivers the death blow with a hammer on the top of the thug's head.
Armando runs over to the yacht's controls and tries to start it, but his thoat is sliced by the Los Zetas leader's garrote.
Mendez
The leader walks outside, raises his fist in the air, and lets out a victory cry.
Winner: Los Zetas Cartel
Expert's Opinion
It didn't matter a whole lot how the training was distributed in this fight, as neither warrior was to far ahead of the other. What really decided this match was the arsenal of Los Zetas was far superior to that of Mendez.