History has proven that territory yields power. In the neolithic revolution, success was based on the number of healthy cultivated crops. Then, the Roman Empire introduced true imperialism and left a legacy of power hungry leaders from Alexander the Great to Napoleon to Hitler. The overlying pattern connecting these disperse historical figures and events is their greed and need for more land. After all, land provides resources, it provides shelter, food, and most importantly, all of these factors attract people to settle, and pay taxes. Although far from the romantic imperialist ideals of the historical expansion of powerful nations, territorial rifes are still extremely relevant today, Mexico being a prime example of territorial claims that affect states, cities, and innocent civilians ever day.
The turf wars in Mexico are a direct result of drugs and drug trafficking. Starting before the 1980s, various crime groups evolved from independent schemes to organized and systematic groups. What came to be known as the drug cartels started assigning and dividing different areas of Mexico, and in their assigned region, cartels would set up networks to trafficking their goods. Their innate success led to clashes between the gangs, and therefore territorial dispute. Notoriously bloody schemes were carried out by rival drug gangs in order to control specific markets and regions, leading to the Mexican government declaring war on organized criminal groups in 2006. Different governments have attempted different methods of quelling violence. President Felipe Calderon used a military initiative to fight against the cartels while President Enrique Peña Nieto adopted a less aggressive method and focused on improving law enforcement and public safety.
There are four main drug cartels, although there are endless intricacies within them, with smaller cartels also asserting their power in lesser acknowledged regions. Sinaloa, The Jalisco New Generation, The Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel are the most widely spoken about by the media. The Sinaloa cartel, set up by El Chapo Guzman is known as one of the world’s largest drug-trafficking organizations. With Guzman’s sentence, prosecutors declared that the Sinaloa cartel had been involved in trafficking cocaine, heroin marijuana, alongside an expense network of dealers, assassins, and kidnapers. After he was jailed, the region of Sinaloa fell victim to a rise in violence as neighboring cartels fought to control the region given that it controls north-west Mexico. The Sinaloa cartel has bases and influences in cities all around the world, from third world countries in Latin America to high profile cities like New York. It is difficult to describe the extent of the violence created by these drug cartels. Civilians were accustomed to observing clashes with the military during the day, and horrific claims to land by the drug traffickers. From decapitating people and placing their heads on stakes around cities, to rapes and killings too gruesome to describe, the atrocities committed by drug gangs in Mexico seem to be straight out of apocalyptic literature. These unspeakable acts of violence not only occur as a message to authorities, but are also a result of clashes between the drugs themselves. Most notably, the Jalisco New Generation and the Sinaloa cartel hold the most aggressive competitions of any cartels in Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation, also known as CJNG was founded in 2010, and has quickly grown as a threat being one of Mexico’s most dominant gang groups. It is estimated that their assets range upwards of 20 billion dollars, and they are led by former police officer, Ruben Osuguera, known as Mexico’s most wanted man. CJNG focus on the distribution of synthetic drugs to Latin America, the United States, Europe, and Asia, and they are considered one of the most bloody cartels in Mexico, resulting in the persistent violence in cities like Tijuana, Juarez, Guanajuato, and Mexico City. The BBC states that among the atrocities they have committed CJNG has, “downed an army helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, killed dozens of state officials, and has even been known to hang the bodies of its victims from bridges to intimidate its rivals.” Another notorious drug cartel controlling the border state of Tamaulipas is The Gulf Cartel. Said to be one of Mexico’s oldest organized groups of drug traffickers, it is believed to have been formed in the 1980s, its reach spanning nations, creating alliances with countries like Colombia in their endeavor to manipulate heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. It is difficult to imagine how such highly influential and recognized organized crime groups have yet to be dismantled, but the culture of bribery and political corruption that plagues many Latin American countries plays a significant role in maintaining and cultivating the drug trade. Many drug dealers create agreements with government officials so that they turn a blind eye or facilitate the transportation of illicit goods. It is the complacency from the government that has enabled the drug trafficking and violence escalate to such worrying levels. The Jalisco New Generation cartel was said to earn billions of dollars each year, and one of their early leaders, Juan Garcia Abrego became the first Mexican drug lord to be included in the FBI’s top ten most wanted. This cartel has endured various shifts in leadership given that the heads of the organization have been jailed or killed, and as a result the cartel has been weakened, catalyzing a bloody turf war with Los Zetas. Referencing the culture of corruption plaguing the Mexican government, this drug cartel was founded in 2010 by former members of Mexico’s military. The leaders of Los Zetas had been previously hired by the Gulf Cartel, but they quickly abandoned the operation to set up their own, inciting horrible violence between them. Their influence escalated quickly, rivaling the Sinaloa gang, and with their success they spread their operations and became involved not only in drug trafficking, but cigarette smuggling and human trafficking. Nevertheless, the empire they had created started declining with the death of one of their leaders in 2012. Now, although less powerful than during their peak, they are still feared for their violent methods, and continue to engage in various turf wars with other cartels.
Infamous drug lords have emerged from these drug cartels, most influentially, El Chapo Guzman was a part of the Sinaloa cartel. Growing up in poverty, Emilio Guzman Bustillos was accustomed to scavenging for food and fighting to make ends meet. His various endeavors to leave the poverty cycle led to his involvement in drug trafficking, and eventually was incorporated into the Guadalajara cartel, led by their “Godfather”, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo. After Gallardo’s arrest in 1989, the Guadalajara cartel was divided into different cartels, known as The Federation, and El Chapo consequently set up the Sinaloa cartel in north-west Mexico. Nevertheless, it was only until the 1990s that he started making a name for himself in the eyes of the media. After a Roman Catholic cardinal was shot as a result of a territorial conflict between rival traffickers, El Chapo was incriminated, and the government set out an operation to capture him. He was captured a few weeks later, and sentenced to 20 years, but after eight years he was able to conduct a theatric escape. Although details are unknown, many say he was extracted from the top-security jail through a laundry cart, but less dramatic accounts claim that he escaped with the help of corrupt security guards. He continued his endeavor to expand his drug empire and his operation’s efficiency grew exponentially, becoming one of the most significant sources of drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States. This led to his appointment as one of the Forbes’ World’s richest men in 2009, with an estimated net worth of one billion dollars. Guzman remained on the run for about 13 years, until he was recaptured in February of 2014, culminating in a second escapade in 2015. This time, it is speculated that members of his cartel dug a tunnel that led to his cell and helped him escape unnoticed. It was only until 2016 that Guzman was found hiding in a house in northern Sinaloa. After a violent encounter with marines, he was captured and a year later extradited to the United States.
The extent of the violent attacks committed by the drug cartels is hard to put into words. According to The Washington Post, over 77,000 people have disappeared since President Calderon declared war on organized crime in 2006. Only in 2019, 35,000 people were murdered. To illustrate just a glimpse of what life under a cartel is like, Reuters wrote on June 18th, 2020, “In recent weeks, gunmen abducted and killed seven police officers, murdered 10 people in a drug rehab center and dumped 12 bullet-riddled bodies of a rival crime outfit, all in areas where the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel operates.” It is believed that over 70% of Mexico’s violence related crimes are directly connected to the cartels. Journalists, for example, lead dangerous lives as they are often targets of gangs, as the number of murdered journalists exceeds 120 since the year 2000. The murders are direct attacks against the freedom of the press, as gangs attempt to control the information circulating in the regions they control. In March of 2016, Miroslava Breach, a Mexican reporter was shot eight times in front of her son. The attackers left a note that said “Por lengua larga” meaning, for your long tongue. She focused on investigating corrupt politicians that subliminally condoned drug trafficking, and she greatly emphasized the connections between political candidates and drug cartels. This is one of hundreds of savage murders carried out by gangs, and it shows the horrible reality people under the grasp of these cartels have to endure. Stories like these are eyeopening accounts to the repercussions of drug trafficking. It not only affects users who end up painfully addicted to the trafficked substances, but it affects the people whose lives are mercilessly exposed to the inner workings of the drug network. Because of the hundreds of terrorizing stories such as that of Miroslava Breach, Mexico has been declared the most dangerous country for journalists. Increasingly gruesome stories pop up on the daily, detailing the deaths of people dedicated to informing and making a change.
Violence in gang-controlled regions in Mexico is still not under control. On January 25th, Mexican authorities found the remains of 19 bodies, who appeared to have been shot and set aflame. The victims were found in the Tamaulipas region in northern Mexico near the US border. Resolutions are not in sight, given that the animosity between gangs spans decades, and they have no interest in compromising with the government. It is only with advocacy and education that one can contribute a grain of sand to this important issue. Understanding its complexity aids the public in knowing where to direct funds, how to help, and how to divulge information in a beneficial way. Despite the painful situation in Mexico, it is also important to remember the beauty this country has to offer. From rich food to wonderful dances, Mexico is a gold mine in terms of culture. With its beautiful tourist spots and joyous inhabitants, it is a country that merits exploration accompanied with a deep respect for its resilient people.
Written By: Carolina Mejia Rodriguez
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