Crossfire between troops and criminals in Mexico

MEXICAN armed forces’ confrontation with organized crime and the criminal acts of the latter currently constitute the most terrifying aspect of Mexican society.

The country’s information services daily reveal heavy blows against these illegal groups, with the capture of many capos and members, plus the seizure of weapons and other resources.

Successes highlighted by the government include the fact that, since 2009, 22 of the 37 most wanted criminals have been arrested, or have died in confrontations with other gangs or during their capture.

However, despite these results on the part of authorities, aggressive drug trafficking gangs continue their criminal activities, compounded by others such as narcotics trading, extortion, kidnapping, person trafficking and theft.

This diversification has notably intensified crime in the country, in particular bloody fights for territorial control, with frequent inter-gang killings, also involving other victims.

The principal gangs involved in the confrontations, characterized by their high degree of cruelty, are the Zetas, the Sinaloa cartel, the Félix Arellanos, the Michoacana Family, the Caballeros Templarios, as well as gangs of hired killers linked to them.

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