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When it comes to combating Mexican drug cartels, law enforcement agencies have aimed at the head, aiming to weakening them by eliminate the groups鈥� leadership. According to the Congressional Research Service, Capitol Hill鈥檚 nonpartisan think tank, 107 of Mexico鈥檚 122 most violent criminals have been removed from cartels. The results? Violence has surged, with media outlets reporting that death tolls have hit 20 year highs. So how did this explosion of violence happen and what鈥檚 coming next?
, a professor at Sam Houston State University and an expert in cartel violence, says violence in Mexico began ticking up in 2016, after decreasing each year since 2011. In 2017, the trend continued, putting Mexican violence on track to return to 2011 levels.
Jones says removing Mexican cartel leaders mirrored the successful strategy used in Colombia in the 1990s. But it hasn鈥檛 worked out.
鈥淭he lieutenants working under the cap that鈥檚 been removed start fighting with each other,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淥ther cartels smell weakness, and say 鈥榟ey, we can take over that trafficking territory.鈥� Then you end up getting these large-scale wars.鈥�
Jones says a new cartel, known by its Spanish acronym, CJNT, has been on the rise recently. As other groups fragment, CJNT has used its significant financial resources to target other cartels and the government.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been really good at adopting the orphans,鈥� Jones says.
The new cartel has not only been aggressive, but also blatant 鈥� flying banners announcing its presence in several Mexican states that threaten other cartels in the area.
鈥淭his is a group that has directly confronted the government,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淚n 2015, they downed a Mexican Army helicopter.鈥�
Jones says he thinks the strategy of going after cartel kingpins will continue. He says he would prefer to see more 鈥渞ule of law鈥� work from government entities.
鈥淲hat really needs to happen is we need to get Mexican institutions working in terms of the rule of law,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淏ecause what good is it to arrest a capo if he can run his operations from the prison system.鈥�
Written by Shelly Brisbin.
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