1. Dangerous Addictions Mexico’s Struggle with Drug Cartels
Irene Anibogwu, Casey Crouse, Brandon Hopkins, Kate Milliken
PL SC 003U
September 30, 2011

2. Five severed human heads were found near an elementary school in Acapulco, Mexico, an area where some schools had already canceled classes because of lack of security.FULL STORY

3. Rise of the Drug Cartels
Ongoing conflict amongst rival cartels who fight for regional control and the government who seek to stop drug trafficking
Geographic location always made Mexico a valuable center for transportation of narcotics.
Cartels have become more powerful since the demise of the Colombian Cartels in the 1990’s
Wholesale earnings from drugs range from billion dollars.

4. Rise of the Drug Cartels
Origins of the Drug Cartels
Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (El Padrino)
Smuggling opium and marijuana into U.S borders
Connections made him point man for Pablo Escobar.
Privatized the Mexican Drug business.
Arrested on April
Gulf Cartel: oldest organized crime group now operating (1970-present)

5. The War on Drugs: 2006-Present
Rise of the Drug Cartels
The War on Drugs: 2006-Present
2006
December 1: Felipe Calderon assumes office and declares war on drug traffickers
Operation Michoacana is launched against La Familia Michoacana cartel
2007
Popular singer Sergio Gómez is kidnapped and killed
Entire police force in Baja California stripped of weapons due to suspicion of collaboration with cartels.
Drug related death reached 2,477
2008
Death Toll: 6,290
2009
Death Toll: 7,724
2010
Estimated Death Rate: 15,000

6. Operation of the Drug Cartels
Each cartel has its own territory in Mexico
Fight/Kill to gain territories
Most influential are those along the Rio Grande

7. Operation of the Drug Cartels
Highest Level Cartels
Sinaloa
Most powerful cartel in Mexico today
Proximity to border
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman
Others:
Pacific Cartel
Knights Templar
Zetas
Role of Drug Lords
Set prices
Track shipments
Manage employment
Handle pay-offs

8. [ [ Operation of the Drug Cartels Use of Violence to Protect Territory
Over 34,000 deaths since 2007
Kidnappings and hostage situations [ [
“There are no codes. There are no boundaries. There are no limits. There is a high degree of impunity. That’s the big worry of all of us that live in Mexico. There were limits in the past; now there are no limits.”
-Security Consultant Carlos Seoane,
on kidnappings by drug cartels.

9. Factors Driving Mexico’s Drug Policy
The Government’s War on Drugs
Factors Driving Mexico’s
Drug Policy
Government corruption
Ranked 2nd most corrupt police force in the world
Many upper level officials have faced corruption charges
U.S. pressure to curb the illegal drug trade
Vast crime and violence from the drug cartels
Voter dissatisfaction triggered by the violence

10. Government combating police corruption
The Government’s War on Drugs
Government combating police corruption
August 2010: Mexico fired 10% of federal police force.
The anti-cartel operations begun by President Calderón in December 2006 included ballistic checks of police weapons
Proposed creation of a national criminal database and a department to oversee coordination among police forces and anti-corruption efforts. 
An extra 1,800 federal agents sent into battle with drug cartels

11. [ [ Mexico’s fight against drug cartels The Government’s War on Drugs
"This is not 'the government's war against drugs,' but the fight of all Mexicans to build an authentic security, based on the rule of law and justice.” -National Security Spokesman Alejandro Poire
The Government’s War on Drugs
Mexico’s fight against drug cartels
December 2006: roughly 36,000 troops deployed to work with the federal police in nine states.
2008 constitutional reform that will merge the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) and the Federal Agency of Investigation (AFI),. 
Recently, Calderon's administration ordered troops and federal police to a Gulf coast state where gunmen dumped 35 bound bodies on a busy avenue.

12. Effectiveness of Mexico’s anti-drug Policies.
The Government’s War on Drugs
Effectiveness of Mexico’s anti-drug Policies.
Since Calderon’s hard nosed approach violence has been on the rise along with targeting of high level government officials. 50,000 dead since the war on drugs campaign has launched.
"We're seeing a transition from the gangsterism of traditional hitmen to paramilitary terrorism with guerrilla tactics." --Luis Astorga, a drug trafficking expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
A new survey (September 2011) by Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project finds that fewer than half (45%) of Mexicans say their government is making progress in its campaign against drug cartels.

13. Different Approaches to the Situation
PRI Handled the Situation Differently…
Corruption and bribery on every level of government—kickbacks.
Strict rules for the cartels.
Crime and corruption, but violence kept off the streets
Different Approaches to the Situation

14. Parties and Critics Approach the Situation
Calderon maintains his stance
Shares the blame with U.S.
Innumerable Criticisms
Called for confidence exams
Mexican Opinion:
45% Making progress
29% Losing ground
25% No change
(Pew Research Center)
83% Continue to support use of Mexican army to fight drug traffickers.

15. Alternative Proposals:
Parties and Critics
Approach the Situation
Monterrey attacks; August 26, 2011
Alternative Proposals:
Legalization of Marijuana
Cartels’ greatest source of income
Analysts suggest as best solution
Attack as a business, not just a crime.
Encourages other forms of crime?
Truce or Accomodation
Negotiate a ceasefire with cartels, most likely call for an amnesty law
Complications of fracturing
Fox, 2011, following the Monterrey attacks

16. 2012 Presidential Elections

18. How do you think the Mexican government should handle the situation?
What do you think the average Mexican citizen could do to influence the current war on drugs or the government’s policies on it?
Consider the role of the drug trade in the Mexican economy. Does this create a conflict of interests for those in the government and in other positions of power?
Theoretically, is it possible to completely halt the drug trade in Mexico?