mexican drug war angela barajas caity embrey michael steel

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Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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Page 1: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

Mexican Drug WarAngela BarajasCaity EmbreyMichael Steel

Page 2: 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?

Page 3: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

Drug Cartels and Routes

Page 4: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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

Page 5: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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.

Page 6: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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.

Page 7: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

Felipe CalderónFelipe Calderón Hinojosa was born in Michoacán, Mexico.

Michoacán is the location of the most brutal drug cartel violence.

Page 8: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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.

Page 9: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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.

Page 10: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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/

Page 11: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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

Page 12: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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.

Page 13: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

Past Policies

Policy of non-action

Generally passive stance

regarding cartel violence

in the 1990s and early

2000s

Page 14: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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”

Page 15: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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

Page 16: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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

Page 17: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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

Page 18: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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"

Page 19: Mexican Drug War Angela Barajas Caity Embrey Michael Steel

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?