Reported incidents of kidnapping and extortion in Mexico increased in January 2014 when compared to the previous month. Increases in extortion and kidnapping in the first month of 2014 follow reports indicating that in 2013, Mexico recorded its highest totals for these crimes in 17 years. Spokespersons for the federal government have attempted to downplay the data, claiming that it represents better crime reporting. However, the reported growth in extortion and kidnapping is more likely a reflection of federal, state, and local authorities’ inability to address Mexico’s growing gang threat. In the near future, political discord and posturing could prevent authorities from enacting credible solutions to this problem.
During his presidential campaign, President Enrique Pena Nieto promised to implement anti-crime strategies to combat extortion and kidnapping. He planned to reduce emphasis on counternarcotics operations and divert resources to address these crimes, thought to more heavily affect the general public. Pena Nieto did take some steps to fulfill his commitments, such as the ...
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduria General de la Republica, PGR) had issued information related to the conformation of the seven principal drug cartels present at Mexico:
The arrest of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman was a victorious circumstance for the Mexican government, who have been closing down on his presence for the recent past years. Mexican authorities began taking down high ranked members of the Sinaloa Cartel including two of Guzman’s main associates. On February 22, 2014, the world’s most wanted man had also been captured. Although the biggest drug lord has been captured, the crime and violence left behind cannot be forgotten.
Having grown increasingly frustrated with these rampant displays of impunity by gangs, the Salvadoran public pressured its government to prioritize public security above all else. In response, the Salvadoran government has attempted to tackle the gang phenomenon using several strategies and methods which have evolved, due to the political and economic dynamics of the country and region, over time.
Over the last several decades, violence has consumed and transformed Mexico. Since the rise of dozens of Mexican cartels, the Mexican government has constantly been fighting an ongoing war with these criminal organizations. The cartel organizations have a primary purpose of managing and controlling illegal drug trafficking operations in Central America and South America to the United States. Violence on a massive and brutal scale has emerged due to the nature of the illegal drug trade. Because the drug trade is vastly widespread, cartels are often fighting one another and competing in business. Mexican authorities count at least 12 major cartels, but also talk of an untold numbers of smaller splinter groups. (Taipei Times). Five cartels from Mexico have risen to become the extremely powerful amongst all the drug organizations operating in Mexico. The Guadalajara Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, the Juarez Cartel, and the Gulf Cartel. These organizations, along with other distinguished Mexican cartels, have plagued Mexico with violence, terror, and fear due to the essence and nature of illegal drug trafficking.
Mexican Cartel’s beginnings have a interesting story. Mexican Cartels came to be when Pablo Escobar, the most powerful drug lord, started expanding even farther than just Colombia. He needed a quicker and more efficient way to get the product to the people who actually bought them. Mexico was a perfect spot to transport all the merchandise to United States. The gangs that distributed these products made a deal with Pablo Escobar and received some share of the merchandise for their own purposes. The Mexican gangs became formidable traffickers and started expanding their business. This business branched off into different gangs which became the Mexican Cartels as they are now.
After three hundred years of suffering and oppression by the Spanish crown, and inspired by the fire of revolution sweeping over the world in places such as United States and France, the Mexican population finally decided that they could endure no more, it was time for a change! In this essay I put together some of the various factors of Spanish colonialism that led to the Mexican independence. These factors were the socio political conditions of nueva españa, the enlightment era, as well as various leaders
As the demand for drugs in the United States has risen, the amount of drug–trafficking cartels in the US has increased proportionally. Each cartel, or a group of people that controls the production and distribution of drugs and other illegal substance, is trying to gain their own place in the multi-billion dollar black market. Violence is used to gain and maintain trafficking routes and ports into the United States. This makes the 2,000+ mile border between the United States and Mexico a warzone for cartels fighting against each other and against law enforcement. Cartels use immigrants wanting to enter the US, as mules to carry over drugs as they enter the US’s. The constant tension between the United States and Mexican governments and the cartels has risen as the violence continues and worsens. Cartels have played a major role in the relations between the Untied States and Mexico as the US has cracked down on foreign policy regarding drugs and violence on the border and in Mexico through the Merida Initiative and Beyond.
Drug trafficking has been a massive concern between the borders of Mexico and the U.S. “since mid 1970s” (Wyler, 1). Drug trafficking is “knowingly being in possession, manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or delivering an illegal, controlled substance” (LaMance, 1). A dynamic relationship exists amongst Columbia, Mexico, and the U.S. the informal drug trafficking economy. This growing informal drug economy leads to many individuals creating a substantial living through this undercover market. These individual drug cartels monopolizing the trafficking market are a growing problem for the U.S economy and need to be located and controlled. If this trafficking continues, the U.S. informal economy will crush the growth of legal industries. The trafficking and abuse of drugs in the U.S. affects nearly all aspects of consumer life. Drug trafficking remains a growing issue and concern to the U.S. government. The U.S. border control must find a way to work with Mexico to overpower the individuals who contribute to the drug trafficking business. This market must be seized and these individuals must be stopped.
"Drug Cartels Threaten the Rule of Law in Mexico." Drug Trafficking. Ed. Julia Bauder. New
Mexican drug cartels rise to dominance. THE WEEK Publications, 25 January 2014. Web. The Web. The Web.
Culture is customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. It includes behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by a group of people to sustain their lives. Mexican culture is influenced by their familial ties, gender, religion, location and social class, among other factors. Today life in the cities of Mexico has become similar to that in neighboring United States and Europe, with provincial people conserving traditions more so than the Mexican living in the city. In the United States Mexican includes any person of Puerto
They are adapting by looking into new ways to make money such as extortion, kidnapping, arms trafficking, murder for hire, and human trafficking. Many critics say these actions look a lot like diversifying their moneymaking interests. " For the commercial insurgency, border controls are perfunctory in "free trade" areas, and there is still a great demand for goods that are linked to smuggling" (PRISM Issue No 3). President Calderon's term in office has seen numerous arrests and significant cooperation with U.S. law enforcement, and intelligence activities, which has negated the freedom of movement the cartels once enjoyed.
...f law enforcement. As the crime rate for this offense continues to rapidly grow, law Enforcement officials as well as government representatives continue to target the crime and find ways to stop it.
The effectiveness of the police force in Mexico is poor, as people continue to live in the shadows. The crime involved in drug cartels is horrific and unfortunately usually does not get punished. According to Humans Rights Watch, 60,000 people have been killed from 2006 to 2012. (www.cnn.com) Furthermore, Jose Merino states the aftermath of their ineffective government, “For the last five years, Mexicans have become experts at body counts, but we still are unable to understand the causes of those deaths. Worse, we have become accustomed to seeing bodies, where we ought to be seeing lawful prosecutions.” (www.americasquarterly.org) In this quote, Jose states the effects that all of these crimes have done. Not only that, but the drug cartels know that the governments are corrupt and the police have little power. In addition, all of this has changed the perspective on people of Mexico, “Mexicans do not find their government a dependable ally against criminals. And Mexico’s judicial system remains embarrassingly corrupt, biased and inept.” (www.americasquarterly.org) The people of Mexico have a neutral based perspective on this, seeing how governments deal with cartels. Their trust is also stripped because of how the government responds. Essentially to lessen this problem, Mexico should start law enforcement through creating stability upon jobs, ensure that all cases are investigated, keep a close eye
"NarcoTerror.org." Narcotics, Drug Trafficking, And Terrorism: Narcoterror, a Project of Common Sense for Drug Policy. 2001. Web. 10 Nov. 2011.