The Mexican Drug Wars

The Mexican Drug Wars Krista Strobel Latin American History 12.11.2009

The Mexican government is factor that has sparked much of the violence in currently fighting a war. It is a war not Mexico. As cartels vie for control of trafficking against another country but against some routes innocent people are being killed. of its own citizens: the Mexican drug The violence is not only sparked from cartel. President Felipe Calderón took control but from new leadership as well. With office in December 2006 and immediately the deaths or arrests of old cartel kingpins, new declared war on the drug cartel located in leaders are coming into power. According to an nine of the thirty-two Mexican states. article in Foreign Affairs, written by Shannon There are seven drug cartels currently O'Neil, "Many of these aspiring leaders come working in Mexico, some of which are from the enforcement arms of the cartels more powerful than others. Each of the and are accordingly inclined to use even more cartels is causing violence to innocent violence as they try to gain control." As these citizens and slowly tearing the Mexican new leaders are established and more violence nation occurs the cartels begin to war with one apart. Despite Calderón's operations, he has only slightly weakened the drug cartels and traffickers. another. One of the largest challenges for the The cartel has become too powerful, government is this: Although these cartels are and is taking over Mexican cities, which puts warring with each other, they are also forming the citizens in danger. This leaves the alliances to remain strong and in control. government with many problems and only so Before examining the cartels that are forming many resources to quell the problems. alliances, it is necessary to understand what the The Mexican drug cartel has become increasingly powerful since the 1990s. In the most powerful cartels in Mexico are. The first is the Juárez cartel. 1990s the Colombian drug cartels fell apart The Juárez cartel is found in twenty- leaving the drug trafficking monopoly in the one Mexican states, more than any other cartel. hands of the Mexican drug cartels. This is one The Sinaloa cartel follows the Juárez by having 2

a presence in seventeen states. The last two are the Tijuana cartel and Gulf cartel with presence in fifteen and thirteen states, respectively. Depending on where these cartels are more powerful they have formed alliances, and now two rival alliances compete for trafficking routes and city domination (see image on right). The Tijuana and Gulf cartel formed an alliance, and the Juárez, Sinaloa and another lesser cartel, the Valencia, joined to form an alliance known as "the Federation." In early 2008, the Juárez and Sinaloa cartels began to clash as they fought over shared drug routes. These alliances, while helpful, are also very unstable. No matter what type of alliance has been made, the cartels continue to remain independent organizations that can break the alliance at any time. To make matters even more confusing, the separate cartels have started to, "employ individuals and groups of enforcers, known as sicarios," according to Colleen Cook in a report written for Congress. The Zetas and the Negros are two such groups The map below shows which areas of Mexico are controlled by one specific cartel alliance, and which areas the two alliances are fighting over to achieve dominance. The Zetas are working closely with the Gulf cartel and the Negros with the Sinaloa. In some situations, sicarios are key to a cartel's chance of success. Cook goes on to say that, "The Zetas were instrumental in the Gulf cartel's domination of the drug trade in Nuevo Laredo." The Gulf cartel remains to hold dominance in Nuevo Laredo despite the attempts of the Negros on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel. The cartels do not maintain dominance by simply using violence against other drug 3

cartels. Both violence and corruption are used opening to gain autonomy, ending their against public and government officials as subordination to the government. They focused well. instead on buying off or intimidating local The Mexican drug cartels have been authorities in order to ensure the safe transit of very effective at corrupting both public and their goods." So, when the PRI went out of government officials. In an interview on 60 power it became more difficult for drug Minutes, Anderson Cooper asked Attorney traffickers to pay off government officials, but General Media-Mora how the cartels have not impossible. been so successful to which he replied, Corrupt government and public officials "because they have tremendous economic has created a huge problem for Calderón to power, and a tremendous intimidation power deal with. Although it may be a problem, it is a that comes from cash and weapons." The problem that Calderón has wholeheartedly cartels have so much power that they can get taken on. All over Mexico the government has away with, well, murder. been prosecuting corrupt police forces. A lot of the corruption happening now Calderón continues what President Fox started carried over from before Calderón took over in 2005 with Operation Secure Mexico. In the presidency in 2006. The Institutional 2006 Calderón began conducting ballistic Revolutionary Party (PRI) had dominated checks on police weapons in places he believed Mexican government since 1929. When the police were working for and with the cartels. PRI's political monopoly ended in the 1990s Despite Calderón's efforts, some believe it changed the balance of power, which had a that they are in vain. Anderson Cooper met great impact on the drug trade as well. When with Sandra Avila Beltran, a famous alleged the National Action Party candidate, Vicente drug trafficker, for an episode of 60 Minutes. Fox, became president in 2000 everything Beltran is one of the skeptics about how changed. O'Neil states that, "Drug trafficking successful the government can be. When organizations took advantage of the political Cooper asked her about the corruption she 4

responded, "In Mexico there's a lot of corruption. A lot. Large shipments of drugs can't come into the Mexican ports or airports without the authorities knowing about it. It's obvious and logical. The government has to be involved in everything that is corrupt." Whether or not it is possible for Calderón to defeat corruption, it is not his only focus. Calderón's government has found other ways to combat the drug cartels. off than other Mexican cities and shows the effects of the drug war to its extreme. Julie Watson wrote in an article for the Associated Press, "There's no question Ciudad Juárez is now among the deadliest. It has had about 2,250 killings this year, a rate of 173 per 100,000 residents." Oftentimes the military solves the problem only until the cartel can find a way to fight back. The cartel has started using guerrillastyle tactics such as assassinations and bombings. Acts of violence haven't only been directed at the police and military. They have expanded to human smuggling, extortion and kidnapping which has put more fear in Mexican citizens. It has been considered that the violence has increased because President A young boy admires the automatic rifle of a police officer. Calderón's war on the drug cartel. Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post Today nearly 60,000 Mexican Despite the violence, polls have shown that the military and police are working to suppress the violence that is a result of the drug war. Some areas are more of a focus than others. For example, in Ciudad Juárez more than Mexican citizens support what Calderón is doing. They may not believe the government can win, but fully two-thirds of the public supports the president. 7,000 troops were sent. Juárez is far worse 5

Despite the fear, there are signs that the Mexican government is seeing some success. According to Attorney General Medina-Mora the government has seventy metric tons of cocaine and arrested 46,000 people on drug-related causes. Not only is Calderón focusing his attention on arresting members of the drug cartel, but he is also using extradition as a tool against traffickers. The United States has a desire to prosecute some of the same member of the cartels. Since Calderón has pledged to work with the U.S. sixty-four criminals have been extradited to the United States. Calderón has been doing everything in his power to win the wars on drugs. As previously stated, he has two -thirds of the country's support. Still remaining is the onethird of the country that may not agree with Whether or not Calderón is targeting the drug cartels in the best way possible, many argue that the Mexican nation is not in danger of collapsing. Calderón's Mexico continues to collect taxes, pay salaries, manage social programs, run schools, hold free and fair elections, etc. The Mexican state is still functioning, in spite of having to deal with drug cartels, traffickers and violence. The government is doing all it can to fight the drug problem in Mexico. Violence however continues to plague the nation. Cities are collapsing and many Mexican citizens live in fear. As previously mentioned one of the cities that is suffering most because of the drug cartelsis Ciudad Juárez. The city is littered with dead bodies, hit men, the Mexican military and the drug cartel. According to Daniel Muguia, president of the local chapter of the National Calderón. Father Miguel López is one of those people saying; "I think President Calderón has good intentions, but to put a soldier on every corner, that is never going to bring us peace." So, while most citizens are showing support for the president there are still some that disagree with his tactics. The empty local market shows the level of 6fear in Ciudad Juárez. AP Photo/Guillermo Arias.

Chamber of Commerce, "The city is dying." has formerly been allied with the Gulf Cartel. La Parents urge their children to stay in, Familia has targeted the federal police. They businesses are shutting down and people are have also taken a stance against the Catholic constantly on the lookout. Regardless of the Church. Steve Fainaru and William Booth of the precautions people are taking innocent Washington Post address how La Familia is Mexican citizens are still being killed. People operating in Michoacan: "Because authorities killed in the last year included university cannot, professors, students and waiters caught in kidnappings, victims sometimes appeal directly crossfire. Luis to La Familia for help." They have been able to Chavez from Juárez is quoted as saying, "It's connect citizens of the area who have been no longer weird to see dead people." The targeted by other drug cartels. Seventeen-year-old Joe or will not, solve murders and residents from Ciudad Juárez are not the These are just two areas that have been only Mexican citizens living in fear. Those heavily affected by the Mexican drug cartels. living in Michoacan are dealing with many of There are many more areas of Mexico that are the same problems. struggling with the same problem. Another Michoacan southwest Mexico. is a rural Much state like in Juárez, dilemma that has recently come up is the increasing role of women in the drug wars. Calderón has sent troops to Michoacan Women are becoming more involved 5,500 additional troops have recently been with the Mexican drug cartels. Some women are sent to the area. The troops have been fairly recruited to the business others are lured by the unsuccessful in repressing the drug cartel. wealth and lifestyle and still others have parents The pushing them into it. It does not matter how cartel has continued with the assassinations, kidnapping and extortion these associated with the drug trade. important thing is that it is having a drastic Most of the violence is in Michoacan is women are becoming involved the impact on the Mexican nation. This caused by a drug cartel ally La Familia, which 7

the drugs belonged to husbands or boyfriends, not themselves. Yet women are in jail, away from their families, doing the time. Some believe that this trend could threaten the entire family structure in Mexican society. Citizens and cities are being greatly This woman was promised $770 and a bus ticket home to traffic drugs. She was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for trafficking two pounds of heroin. Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times Women are being arrested, imprisoned, and even killed because of their involvement with the cartel. Culiacan, a city in the Sinaloa, is highly involved in the drug war. The prison in Culiacan has one quarter of its space filled with women. Whereas nationally, only five-percent of prison space is filled with women. According to Tracy Wilkinson, reporter for the Los Angeles Times, "On average in Sinaloa this year, a woman was killed every week in what authorities believe to be gangland hits." Women put to much trust in the cartels and because of this end up dead or in prison. Most women claim that they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time; affected by the drug war that is raging in Mexico. President Calderón and the Mexican government are using all of their resources to fight the cartels and traffickers; however, violence still afflicts the nation. This violence will continue as long as the drug cartels defy the Mexican government and as long as the drug cartels are at war with each other. If the Mexican government continues to do these things: maintain support from the Mexican people, keep violence from undermining democracy and use its resources to combat this problem then the government will be doing everything in its power to beat the drug cartels. This problem is partially fueled by circumstances outside the Mexican nation. So, while President Calderón could do everything right he still may not find success. Only time will tell if the drug cartels can be stopped and the drug wars can end. 8

Source List Cook, Colleen. CRS Report for Congress: Mexico's Drug Cartels. Rep. 2007. Federation of American Scientists. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/rl34215.pdf>. Cooper, Anderson. "60 Minutes." 60 Minutes. CBS. 1 Mar. 2009. CBS.com. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/26/60minutes/main4831806.shtml?tag=curr entvideoinfo;segmentutilities>. Fairnaru, Steve, and William Booth. "A Test of Faith in Mexico's Drug War: Religion Endures an Inner, Outer Struggle." The Washington Post 11 Aug. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/story/2009/08/10/st2009081003146. html?sid=st2009081003146>. O'Neil, Shannon. "The Real War in Mexico: How Democracy Can Defeat the Drug Cartels." Foreign Affairs July & aug. 2009. The Council on Foreign Relations. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65155/shannon-oneil/the-real-war-in-mexico>. Payan, Tony. "A Tale of Two Cities." Newsweek 14 Sept. 2009. 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <www.newsweek.com/id/214842>. Tedford, Deborah. "Gunmen Kill 18 At Drug Rehab Center In Mexico." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=112526827>. Watson, Julie. "Fear Dominates Mexico's Deadliest Cities." The Washington Post. 7 Dec. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/12/ 06/AR2009120601165.html>. Wilkinson, Tracy. "Women play a bigger role in Mexico's drug war." Los Angeles Times. 10 Nov. 2009. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgnarco-women10-2009nov10,0,2499736.story>. 9