Mexico says 28,000 killed in drugs war since 2006

[Dragunov]

4 August 2010 Last updated at 05:57 ET

More than 28,000 people have died in drug-related violence since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the drug cartels in 2006, officials say.

National intelligence chief Guillermo Valdes said real progress had been made towards breaking the cartels' power but he admitted that violence was growing.

Police and soldiers had seized 84,000 weapons and nearly 35,000 vehicles, and confiscated more than $400m (£250m) in suspected drugs money, reducing the operational capacity of the criminal gangs.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10860614?print=true

[enemy crab]

the bulk of those 28,000 people where involved in the drug trade anyways.

[CaptMorgan68]

that's a civil war they got going there...

[FireFightNTx]

that's a civil war they got going there...

So true. Maybe anyone escaping Mexico can claim political asylum when they make it to the USA.

[rgjbloke]

All these figures, the deaths, the weapons seized, the vehicles seized and the money confiscated are enormous indicators that this is virtually civil war in all but name!

[enemy crab]

this isnt a civil war, its a war on drug criminals who use mexico as a highway to transport drugs into the USA, and its pretty clear that government of mexico is winning this war on drug terrorists.

[Hollis]

All these figures, the deaths, the weapons seized, the vehicles seized and the money confiscated are enormous indicators that this is virtually civil war in all but name!


this isnt a civil war, its a war on drug criminals who use mexico as a highway to transport drugs into the USA, and its pretty clear that government of mexico is winning this war on drug terrorists.


Also the cartels are at war against each other. The Government is doing a really good job.

[Laworkerbee]

this isnt a civil war, its a war on drug criminals who use mexico as a highway to transport drugs into the USA, and its pretty clear that government of mexico is winning this war on drug terrorists.

Define how the government is winning.

The body counts are getting higher, the attacks by gunmen more brazen and drugs are still as cheap as ever. While I agree this is nothing like a civil war I also see things getting much worse before any light appears at the end of the tunnel.

[enemy crab]

Define how the government is winning.

The body counts are getting higher, the attacks by gunmen more brazen and drugs are still as cheap as ever. While I agree this is nothing like a civil war I also see things getting much worse before any light appears at the end of the tunnel.

attack on the military are not acts of bravery, they are acts of desperation . plus another huge blow that might be delivered against drug cartels by felipe calderons open debates on legalization of marijuana. mexicos efforts against drug cartels in mexico have pushed some cartels in guatemala and belize. the beltran leyva cartel is on the verge of collapsing. a member of the mexican government has said that 120,300 people tied to drug organizations have been arrested in mexico. 27% of those detained are either gulf cartel members, or zetas members, another 24% are linked to the pacific/tijuana cartels;17% juarez cartel members; 14% beltran leyva members; and 13% tijuana cartel members.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/672485.html
to me that translates to progress,

[Laworkerbee]

attack on the military are not acts of bravery, they are acts of desperation . plus another huge blow that might be delivered against drug cartels by felipe calderons open debates on legalization of marijuana. mexicos efforts against drug cartels in mexico have pushed some cartels in guatemala and belize. the beltran leyva cartel is on the verge of collapsing. a member of the mexican government has said that 120,300 people tied to drug organizations have been arrested in mexico. 27% of those detained are either gulf cartel members, or zetas members, another 24% are linked to the pacific/tijuana cartels;17% juarez cartel members; 14% beltran leyva members; and 13% tijuana cartel members.
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/672485.html
to me that translates to progress,

A move to legalize drugs in Mexico will have zero effect on the violence associated with the drug trade since the main point of conflict is related to smuggling routes into the United States.

In Tijuana, for foreigners at least drugs have been decriminalized. Dope can be purchased anywhere in the Red Light under the watchful eyes of the police and as long as you do it in privacy I've heard there are no problems. It all comes down to money.

The Beltran cartel even if it does collapse will be replaced over night by Beltrano soldiers who know the game and how much money is at stake.

When I see the governments of North America work together and see the price of drugs smuggled in from Mexico double or triple in price, then I will consider some progress is being made.

[CaptMorgan68]

Also the cartels are at war against each other. The Government is doing a really good job.

the govt is doing a great job with what they have for sure but there's an obvious escalation here.... there are areas where federal agents will show up only in tanks with some recon deployed and air cavalry present... and not to mention the cartels do things to ensure local support around where they have bases or areas of interest... although it gets very complicated in some urban areas or where there's quite a contention for turf... this though has got the dynamics to turn into a low simmering civil war....

and what does it tell you when the federal forces arrest some 120 local policia? how many of those policia are going to sign up with cartels after they are ousted?some will get prosecuted or get relatively short sentences and when they are out there's little in terms of choice due to most certain unemployment for them in a country with 3rd world social infrastructure... unless they want to join millions of their compatriots in taking part in the border crossing marathon to the US

[enemy crab]

the govt is doing a great job with what they have for sure but there's an obvious escalation here.... there are areas where federal agents will show up only in tanks with some recon deployed and air cavalry present... and not to mention the cartels do things to ensure local support around where they have bases or areas of interest... although it gets very complicated in some urban areas or where there's quite a contention for turf... this though has got the dynamics to turn into a low simmering civil war....

and what does it tell you when the federal forces arrest some 120 local policia? how many of those policia are going to sign up with cartels after they are ousted?some will get prosecuted or get relatively short sentences and when they are out there's little in terms of choice due to most certain unemployment for them in a country with 3rd world social infrastructure... unless they want to join millions of their compatriots in taking part in the border crossing marathon to the US when did federal police start using tanks and air calvary? not even the mexican army uses tanks on patrols. im pretty sure people who get out of prison will have no trouble to fin a job in the 13th richest country in the world, with a low unemployment rate of 4%.