After our discussion last class concerning drug trafficking, I became very interested in stories relating to what is occurring on our southern border and in Mexico as a whole.
Cancun's Police Chief, Francisco Velasco, was detained for questioning in the case of a tortured and murdered army brigadier general. Because of Mexico's illegal drug problems 45,000 Mexican soldiers have been assigned to the drug hot spots. In attempts to control the extreme violence, the soldiers have become the targets of the drug cartels. Just last year, six soldiers were beheaded and their heads thrown on a main strip of land for people to see. As we learned in class, a total of 6,000 deaths were linked to the drug cartels and their violent acts. Supposedly 90% of the 6,000 have reportedly been linked to the trafficking of illegal drugs, but the 10% of innocent victims is still an ample number! The end of the article discusses how some of the cartels drop drugs at sea and allow the ocean's currents to bring them to our coasts. Thus, much of the drugs appears near the coast of Baja California; different gangs try to pick them up, and violent battles occur. Sadly, a close end to the drug trafficking and drug related violence doesn't seem to be in sight.
Another interesting sight: http://projects.latimes.com/siege/#/interactive-map
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