Violence Growing Even Worse in Mexico
March 3rd, 2009 by PerryThe drug violence is growing increasingly brazen in Mexico. Last week, federal officers made several seizures and arrests in relation to two officers who were shot and killed in their police car while on patrol.
The Mexican government reports a staggering 1,000 deaths linked to drug trafficking in the first eight weeks of the year (2009). For the last six months, the violence has grown increasingly worse. Latterly, a governmental criticized itself for the failure in identifying suspects in the murder of a magazine editor.
Naturally, Right Wing-conservative pundits are using this as an excuse to bash Obama’s decision to end federal raids on marijuana as a stimulus plan for these gangsters.
But how is legalization not the logical progression, if you could create revenue and help control something that’s seemingly way more powerful than the government?
It’s not giving up, it’s getting ready to be practical about how out of control the problem is.
Note: The segment above is entitled “The War Next Door” from last Sunday’s 60 Minutes reported by Anderson Cooper. Running time: 11m 52s.
Political Cartoon: Narco-Violence
February 17th, 2009 by Alex
Here’s a quick cartoon from David Cagle’s awesome political cartoon ticker.
Looks like we’re not the only ones noticing all the narco-violence going on South of the border. Hopefully, some politicians are paying attention too.
[image copyright David Fitzsimmons]
Addiction, Mexico, The US & Drug Policy
February 10th, 2009 by Perry
As the drug violence goes back and forth across American and Mexican borders, a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle talked about the alarming rise in Mexico’s addiction rates.
A cited study by the Mexican government claimed the number of addicts has doubled in the last six years, although that number could be significantly higher in the more lawless areas, “but hard to quantify due to difficulties in polling states with heavy drug violence.”
I would imagine a poll would have integrity issues anywhere there are roving death squads, beheadings and corrupt law enforcement.
One of the great ironies of the article is that the U.S. is held partly accountable according to a Brookings Institute report that posited American dollars used to fight drug manufacturers should have been spent on education, not enforcement.
I know this is pretty obvious to everyone in hindsight, but in light of how remarkably inefficient law enforcement has been at reducing drug use, violence or illegal activity of any kind in either direction – maybe it’s time to attack the demand rather than the supply.
The worst part is the lack of surprise this should be to American policy makers. In their Oct., 2007 piece, the New York Times chronicled the Mexican drug trade and addiction epidemic sweeping through Central Mexico. For a dated dose of depressing imagery, check out the NYT’s addiction gallery.
[photo via LA Times]
Cartels Moving Crops North
February 9th, 2009 by Perry
Mexican drug cartels, growing stronger and bolder in their trafficking efforts, are moving operations North of the border, according to a recent New York Times story.
As if concrete donkeys weren’t enough, officials are seeing organized, large-scale grow efforts all over the Southwest – specifically, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Authorities have been alarmed by the group’s ability to spread, claiming cartel-owned operations as far North as Washington.
Nevermind the fact I couldn’t get a hold of so much as a roach’s worth when I visited family out there a few years ago – it’s reassuring to hear there’s now copious fields of pot everywhere. The article describes the move as an effort to combat heightened security equipment and stepped-up enforcement on both sides of the border.
The real story here is about Mexico losing out by being a victim of American policy. If Mexico legalized marijuana, as already being the world’s largest exporter of the drug, its government would be lifted out of poverty practically instantly.
Last year, a report was issued stating that cartels had operations in 195 cities. The article reported that the four largest cartels were: The Federation, the Tijuana Cartel, the Juarez Cartel and the Gulf Cartel.
You already have your distribution network right there. Now you just have to worry about the corruption, murder and ideas like packaging the product in ugly concrete donkeys, but legalization takes care of a lot of those issues.
US / Peru Shot Down 15 Planes in Airbridge Denial Program
December 15th, 2008 by Alex
Who says the American government doesn’t come clean? It might take them a while… but they do get around to it. Eventually.
In the first public reports about the Airbridge Denial Program – a US / Peruvian operation to shoot down civilian planes identified by CIA spotters as narcotics transporters – we’ve learned the exact number of planes shot down. Fifteen.
Between 1995 – 2001, most of these airplanes crash landed in the jungle (and could never be checked for drugs), but in one post-shooting case an emergency river landing led to the discovery of Veronica Bowers and her 7-month old daughter. Both dead, both innocent.
The story goes on to tell about violations of aircraft interception procedures, obstruction of justice and potential criminal charges. Finally, some light is being shed on a government program that went too far.
Drug Cartels Are Not Friendly
September 26th, 2008 by Alex
Shortly after being elected, President Felipe Calderon executed a surprising crackdown on drug production and drug cartels in Mexico. First, he started with his home state, by bringing in 10,000 army troops, setting up checkpoints and taking weapons from corrupt policemen. Then, he started spreading the crackdown across all of Mexico.
This was great news, crystal meth and cocaine production dipped across the board, prices went up. Unfortunately, there was one group of people not so stoked about this – the Mexican drug cartels.
Their response? Increasingly gruesome violence aimed not only at adversaries but also at innocent people. Here are some stats:
- Drug related murders, by Sept. 3rd, hit 3,004 this year, compared with 2,673 in all of 2007
- A fraction of suspects are being convicted – only 12% of all federal investigations result in a conviction
- Drug addiction in Mexico has risen, as it’s harder to get drugs out of the country, and instead sell them to their own people
Now, the people are marching against the government for all the violence that these drug cartels are causing. Even worse, all the arresting and shuffling of those cartels is making them splinter into more pieces, with more fighting between them. It’s a lose-lose situation, with ruthless murderers right in the middle.
Cocaine Cowboys
March 9th, 2007 by AlexDuring the 80s, Colombian drug lords invaded Miami determined to control the trade by whatever means necessary. It’s what put the city on the map. Cocaine Cowboys is based on a true story of how Miami became the drug, murder, and cash capital of the US, recounted by the folk who made it all happen.
It’s a full-length feature film, nearly two hours long. And boy if you love stereotypes, this movie’s got ‘em. So if this sounds like something that might interest you, watch it. If not, just put it on during a party… I’m sure it’ll capture somebody’s attention.
