Guadalajara -
Mexico's Dept. of Defense reported yesterday that although somewhat less visible than in the previous administration, military operations against organized crime remain "intense," with high ranking drug cartel operatives frequently the targets.
Between Dec. 1 and May 15, almost 3,500 persons were arrested in what SEDENA officials called "precision strikes."
During the same period, army, marine and naval units seized 5,202 weapons, over 593,000 rounds of ammunition and 719 grenades, together with $2 million dollars in cash. Thirty aircraft and vessels and almost 4,500 vehicles were also decommissioned, reported the department.
In last year's presidential contest many predicted that Enrique Peña Nieto would abandon the now 77 month old drug war launched by his predecessor, president Felipe Calderón, in December 2006, or at least pull the army from the streets. But Peña Nieto has not done so, although he has emphasized in public statements that his primary goal is to reduce the level of violence.
The use of armed forces to replace under equipped, poorly trained and sometimes corrupt local and state police in anti-drug cartel operations was known in the previous administration as the National Security Strategy. It was the most controversial aspect of Calderón's six year tenure.
Yesterday general Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, head of SEDENA, emphasized that military forces were being used to fight organized crime "exactly as in the last government," but with less emphasis on open confrontations, to reduce civilian casualties (Mexico says drug war deaths are plummeting).
"We're not doing anything different," Cienfuegos said in Durango Thursday during an armed services exposition. "We're simply avoiding skirmishes with criminals where there's a risk that innocent third parties might get caught in the battle. Otherwise we're the same, and we're meeting with success."
SEDENA statistics suggest that Mexican forces continue to place heavy emphasis on drug seizures. Through May 15 units intercepted 308,000 kilos of marijuana, 3,000 kilos of methamphetamine, 1,500 kilos of cocaine and 44 kilos of heroine. Most seized drugs are destined for U.S. markets, according to the Mexican and American governments (Obama tells Mexico: "drug legalization not the answer").
Other drug war stats reported by SEDENA covering the first 165 days of the new PRI administration: 92 clandestine airstrips used by traffickers decommissioned; 2,341 hectares of marijuana plants and 10,087 hectares of opium poppy destroyed; 57 drug labs dismantled. A hectare is about 2.5 acres.
On Dec. 18 Mexico's attorney general said that up to 80 drug cartels are operating in the country.
Apr. 21 - SEDENA: 158 narco gunmen killed by troops in first 90 days of EPN administration
Jan. 7 - Peña Nieto: no option but to follow Calderón strategy
Feb. 1 - Human Rights Watch condemnation of drug war reveals little understanding of conflict
Feb. 19 - New York Times figures it out: in drug war, Enrique Peña Nieto = Felipe Calderón Hinojosa
Feb. 23 - Mexican officials dispute U.S. press reports on drug war disappearances
Feb. 27 - Mexico's drug war disappearances: the "official government list" that proves nothing
Mar. 11 - Enrique Peña Nieto's three smart decisions
June 11, 2012 - New York Times got Mexican presidential candidates' drug war strategies wrong
© MGRR 2013. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment