Thirty-six days after taking the reins in Mexico City, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) administration of Enrique Peña Nieto issued its first drug war report today.
The government said that security forces took 854 organized crime operatives into custody in December. During multiple operations they seized about $1.5 million dollars in cash - two thirds of it in U.S. currency, and the remainder in pesos.
Almost 1,500 firearms were secured, together with 38,373 rounds of ammunition and 156 hand grenades.
The Secretary of Government also reported that 50,417 kilograms of marijuana were seized, together with 404 kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram of heroine, and 20 kilograms of methamphetamine. A kilo is approximately 2.2 lbs.
Various drug precursors were seized or destroyed, including 1,644 marijuana plants; 5,841 opium poppy plants and 14 kilograms of poppy seeds; and 239 kilograms (527 lbs.) of marijuana seeds.
Real estate, vehicles and personal property used in trafficking operations were decommissioned by government forces in December, revealing the huge extent of organized crime operations: 19 remote landing strips capable of handling light aircraft, three rural camps where drugs were processed and stored, 875 vehicles, four aircraft, three boats, and 61 drying machines used for curing drug products.
The Secretary said that more Federal Police units were dispatched to patrol the trouble border between Jalisco and Michoacán states, which erupted in violence the weekend before Christmas. Many local police officers there have resigned or absconded in terror of marauding rural executioners.
Jan. 7 - Peña Nieto: no option but to follow Calderón strategy
Jan. 3 - Mexican narco violence after first month of new PRI administration: 982 executions, 32 a day
Dec. 30 - Mexico's drug war, by the numbers
Dec. 19 - Enrique's challenging homework
CBC News report on Canadian drug traffickers in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, May 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment