Mexico's Drug Trafficking Organizations - Federation of American ...

Mexico’s Drug Trafficking Organizations: Source and Scope of the Violence
criminal structures operate with logistical support from corrupt municipal police and
politicians. 231
Some analysts contend that Colombia’s experience provides valuable lessons for Mexico. 232 The
increasing training provided by Colombian security forces to Mexico’s army and police in recent
years demonstrates that there are operational lessons that Mexican authorities value. 233 Others
maintain that Mexico’s situation is distinctly complex, which limits the relevance of Colombia as
a model. Clearly, there are many lessons learned from studying the U.S. supported successes and
failures in Colombia, but their application to Mexico are limited by the countries’ very different
histories and circumstances.
Author Contact Information
June S. Beittel
Analyst in Latin American Affairs
jbeittel@crs.loc.gov, 7-7613
231 Ibid.
232 For example, Robert C. Bonner, “The New Cocaine Cowboys,” Foreign Affairs, vol. 89 (July/August 2010). Bonner
looks to an earlier era for lessons from Colombia, but asserts that “Virtually all the key lessons learned from the defeat
of the Colombian cartels in the 1990s are applicable to the current battle against the Mexican cartels.”
233 Juan Forero, “Colombia Stepping Up Anti-Drug Training of Mexico’s Army, Police,” Washington Post, January 22,
2011.
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