More killed as Mexican drug violence escalates
Police on patrol in Cuidad Juárez, the world’s murder capital. ; Scazon
THE BODIES of 12 people have been found in a cave near the popular tourist resort Cancun in Mexico. Some of the bodies had the letter ‘z’ carved into their chests, suggesting that the Los Zetas cartel were responsible for the killings.
Los Zetas, are one of several powerful drug cartels currently involved in violence in Mexico. The ‘Zetas’ were previously the paramilitary wing of the Gulf Cartel, Since taking office in 2006, President Felipe Calderon has engaged in a massive crackdown against the drug cartels. The violence has claimed the lives of over 23,000 people since 2006.
Drug cartels are currently fighting a bitter turf-war over key smuggling routes. Mexico is a major trafficking route to the United States. Currently around 70% of foreign narcotics in the USA are supplied by Mexican drug cartels.
The cartels are organised and are often better equipped than the police and army. They have been known to use high calibre automatic weapons capable of piercing armoured vehicles. In addition, submarines have been used to transport drugs into the USA.
Border cities, including Cuidad Juárez and Tijuana, have become battlegrounds between rival drug gangs. Cuidad Juarez has become the site of a bitter conflict between the Juárez Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Juárez ,which borders the American city of El Paso, is currently the world’s murder capital, with more than 15 murders occuring per day in the city. In 2009 over 2,500 people were killed in the violence.
In the same year, an additional 5,000 Mexican soldiers were deployed to the city. At present 50,000 federal troops and police are engaged in fighting against the drug cartels in Mexico.
The US now considers the drug war in Mexico to be the biggest threat to national security
Corruption plays a major role in the violence in Mexico. In some cities policemen and political figures have been implicated in the violence. Prison breaks are common; Guzmán escaped from a high security prison in 2001 and has evaded capture.
Since then, the head of Interpol in Mexico and several municipal politicians have been arrested for corruption as well as hundreds of police officers.
The US now considers the drug war in Mexico to be the biggest threat to national security. The US Congress pledged $1.6bn to help fight the Cartels to be given over three years.
In March three people associated with the US consulate in Cuidad Juárez were murdered.
Following this President Obama has said he may send National Guard Troops to the border to prevent violence spilling over the border in to Texas.
While drugs flow from Mexico into the USA, it is suggested that around 2,000 weapons pass into Mexico every day.
Following the recent upsurge in violence, President Calderon recently defended his strategy. In a statement, Calderon said that he was “convinced” that Mexico would be in a much worse situation if the criminals hadn’t been tackled.
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Mexican lads always kicking off innit