mexican drug war
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Mexican Drug War. Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel. http:// www.nytimes.com /interactive/2009/03/22/us/ BORDER.html. What is Mexico dealing with?. Drug Cartels and Routes. The effects. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mexican Drug WarAngela BarajasCaity EmbreyMichael Steel
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/22/
us/BORDER.html
What is Mexico dealing with?
Drug Cartels and Routes
The effects-Drug cartels in Mexico
control approximately 70% of the foreign narcotics that flow
into the United States.-35,286 people have been
killed since 2006 in Mexico as a result of the turmoil caused
by the cartels. -Drug trafficking its worth
between 13.6 billion to $48.4 billion annually
Since February 2010, the major cartels have aligned in two factions, one integrated by the Juarez Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Los Zetas and the Beltran-Leyva Caretel;; the other faction integrated by the Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel and La Familia Cartel.
Traffickers have resorted to extreme and non conventional measures to traffic. The last invention was a catapult found in Naco/ Tucson. Another catapult was found in Agua Prieta. The National Guard dismantled the operation.
Felipe CalderónFelipe Calderón Hinojosa was born in Michoacán, Mexico.
Michoacán is the location of the most brutal drug cartel violence.
Before Calderón Entered Office
Violence increased from 2000 under President Vicente Fox.
Fox sent small numbers of troops, mostly to the U.S.-Mexico border, to fight the cartels but had little success.
There was a surge of violence in 2005 as the drug cartel La Familia Michoacana tried to establish itself in Michoacán. Some cocaine
and drugs seized from La Familia Michoacana during a raid.
Unlike the passive stance of the previous administration under Vicente Fox, Calderón entered office ready to combat drug violence.
Calderón sent 6,500 troops into Michoacán upon entering office in December 2006.This action is
regarded as the first major operation against organized crime, and is generally viewed as the starting point of the war between the government and the drug cartels.
Why the Change? Calderón is from a region of
heavy violence; to him the cartel violence is personal.
In 2010 Calderón said that the cartels seek "to replace the government" and "are trying to impose a monopoly by force of arms, and are even trying to impose their own laws."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38565051/ns/world_news-americas/
In Michoacán there were more than 20 homicides (on average) per 100,000 people in 2009. In some towns, this number exceeded 30.
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/seventh_survey/7sv.pdf
Even though the violence has continued with more than 22,700 dead since Calderón took office, he has no regrets about being the first Mexican president to stand up to the cartels.
Calderón blames previous administrations for turning a blind eye to the problem. He says they allowed drugs to infiltrate the domestic market and that trafficking is no longer limited to border smuggling.
Past Policies
Policy of non-action
Generally passive stance
regarding cartel violence
in the 1990s and early
2000s
Why Lack of Action in Past?
Increasingly powerful cartels in past decade
Escalation has been in past 5 years in particular
Difficult to prosecute "because members of the cartels have infiltrated and corrupted the law
enforcement organizations that are supposed to prosecute them, such as the Office of the Attorney
General”
With Calderon’s ElectionAssumed office December 1, 2006
December 11, 2006: 6,500 federal troops to the state of Michoacán to end drug violence there – first major operation against organized crime;
generally viewed as the starting point of the war between the government and the drug cartels
Further Actions Now ~45,000 troops involved in addition to state and
federal police forces
July 10, 2008: plans announced to double size of Federal Police
purging local police forces of corrupt officers
massive police recruiting and training effort
Policy Implications (U.S.)
Tourism– kidnappings, murders, etc
Drugs coming into US
Governors of Arizona and Texas
have asked federal government
to send additional National
Guard troops to help those
already there in supporting local
law enforcement efforts against
drug trafficking Increased their co-operation
with U.S. street and prison
gangs to expand their
distribution networks within
the U.S. Mexican officials point out that the illicit drug trade is shared problem in need
of a shared solution; remark that most financing for Mexican traffickers comes from U.S. consumers
Policy Implications (Mexico) On people/cartel
Large banners over highways in cities around country.
Deteriorating security reducing GDP annually by 1%
Infiltrated and corrupted the Mexican federal government and the Mexican
12 mayors & a candidate for governor killed in 2010
Media- reporters, media sources
According to former Presidents of Brazil, Mexico, & Colombia, the U.S.-led drug war is pushing Latin America into a downward spiral; "the available evidence indicates that the war on drugs is a failed war"
Discussion Questions
Do you think the government made the right move in acting so aggressively, or should they have tried to be less public about their actions given the tradition of inaction and the impacts the War has had on tourism, safety, etc?
Do you think that Felipe Calderón is doing the right thing by continuing to take on the drug cartels even though his party is suffering politically?
What kind social repercussions do you think people along the border are experiencing?