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Dangerous Addictions

Dangerous Addictions. The Struggle with Drug Cartels. Rise of the Drug Cartels . 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

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Dangerous Addictions

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  1. Dangerous Addictions The Struggle with Drug Cartels

  2. Rise of the Drug Cartels • 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 13- 48 billion dollars.

  3. Origin of Drug Cartels • Smuggling to U.S. Border • Opium • Cocaine • Marijuana • Connections made him point man for Pablo Escobar. • Privatized the Mexican Drug business. • Arrested on April 8 1989 • Gulf Cartel: oldest organized crime group now operating (1970-present Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo (El Padrino)

  4. The War on Drugs: Felipe Calderon • 2006 • December 1: Calderon assumes presidency & declares war on drug traffickers • Operation Michoacana is launched against La FamiliaMichoacana 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 & 2012 • Estimated Death Rate: 15,000 each year

  5. Cartels are Territorial

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. Mexican 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

  9. 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 intobattle with drug cartels

  10. [ [ "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 • 2006: roughly 36,000 troops deployed to work with the federal police • 2008 constitutional reform merges the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) and the Federal Agency of Investigation (AFI),. • 2011 Calderon's administration ordered troops and federal police to a Gulf coast state where gunmen dumped 35 bound bodies on a busy avenue.

  11. Mérida Initiative • October 22, 2007- US and Mexico issued a statement announcing the start of the initiative • Eventually signed into law on June 30, 2008 by G.W. Bush • Overall agreement to expand bilateral and regional counternarcotic and security cooperation in Mexico and in Central America • Goal: Reduce $12-15 billion yearly ash flow of drugs between the US and Mexico

  12. What is the Mérida Initiative? • It is a multiyear plan for US assistance in Mexico and Central America • Predicted to cost about $500 million in Mexico and $50 million in Central America • Mexico was the area in need of the most aid- Mexican military and law enforcement

  13. Mexico: to enhance and complement US and Mexican efforts against drug, human and weapons trafficking • Central America: to strengthen the capacity of the government to find and destroy unauthorized drugs, goods, arms and people Goals

  14. Mexico: $500 million for planes, parts, training, expansion of the immigrations agency database and verification system, securing communications systems, law enforcement training, etc. • Central America: $16.6 million spread throughout the 7 countries • Expenditures • support for the CA Fingerprinting Exploitation (CAFÉ), • technical assistance on firearms tracing and destruction, border security • anti-gang efforts Budget

  15. Training of Agents • Training is included in a $24 million proposal which also covers logistics and spare parts • 4,500 federal police have already completed training • Taught by law enforcements professionals from other countries • Millions for canine training

  16. Training of Agents Continued… • Skills learned • criminal investigative techniques, evidence collection, crime scene preservation and ethics • How to view contents of rail cars using Railroad, Vehicle, and Cargo Inspection Systems • How to detect weapons and drugs in cars, trains and many types of containers • How to hold, transport and classify prisoners

  17. Interrogation Controversy • A US Secretary Firm Instructor in Mexico was accused of teaching city police officers “enhanced interrogation” techniques • Line between “enhanced interrogation” and torture not always clear

  18. Upgrading Capabilities of Mexican & Central American Governments • The US helps to train police, prosecutors and defenders  • Support from the US is helping to develop correction systems • The Mexican government has used funds to establish a corrections academy to train federal correctional staff. • Similar efforts in Guatemala, El Salvador & Costa Rica

  19. Equipment Exchange •Eight Bell helicopters to the Mexican Army/Air Force •Three UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Federal Police •Three UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Mexican Navy

  20. Security Cooperation: Drones Orbiter Mini UAV

  21. Secretary of State Clinton involved

  22. Solutions towards Security Cooperation • Embedded U.S. Security Forces: • Trust:  Information can be compartmentalized • Training:  Experts can give on the job training • Equipment:  U.S. forces can have access to                 American technology • Laws:  Small teams can take advantage of loopholes • Funding:  Cost effective compared to pure funding B

  23. Criticisms of Merida  • •The Mérida Initiative is called "Plan Mexico" by critics, to point out its similarities to Plan Columbia • •In "Plan Columbia", U.S. has heavily funded the Colombian military, yet cocaine production has steadily increased and registered a 27% rise in 2007, before declining in 2008 and 2009. • •  Comparison casts doubt on return for investment on Merida • Concern over potential compromise of personal privacy

  24. Challenges to Cooperation: • Lack of Trust • Criminal Gangs have infiltrated the security Mexican security forces • Mexicans do not trust the U.S. government • Poor Training • Tactical, Criminal, Judicial • Bad Equipment • Restrictive Laws • Who is in charge? • Gun smuggling  • Limited Funding A

  25. Security Cooperation:  Fast and Furious • Operation by U.S.  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) • Encouraged gun sellers to provide guns to suspicious buyers • Gunwalking ("letting guns walk") • Over half of the 2,000 guns were lost • Many recovered at crime scenes too late • U.S. border agent (Brian Terry) killed with guns from Fast & Furious • ATF attempted to hide the scandal • Used the increase in violence from rifles as evidence it needed stronger gun laws it had long wanted. • Shattered trust and charges of U.S. recklessness E

  26. Security Cooperation:  Political Pressure • 2012 is an election year for Mexico and the U.S. • Mexican electorate threatening change • Fear of corruption and violence • Increasing role of the U.S. • Barack Obama on defensive over Fast & Furious • Drugs are still crossing the border • Violence could spill over • Lobbyists preventing changes to gun laws F

  27. Drug related violence continues • 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 Accommodation • Negotiate a ceasefile with cartels • Amnesty • Issue in 2012 Mexican Presidential Campaign

  28. Administration of government of Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) • Will the drug problem be handled differently? • Corruption and bribery • Strict rules for the cartels. • Crime and corruption, but violence kept off the streets

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