Is the United States Really Threatened by Mexican Drug Cartels?

The depth and breadth of Operation Xcellerator suggests that Mexican drug cartels present a clear and present danger to the American population and its institutions. Operation Xcellerator is an extensive investigation that resulted in the arrest of 775 criminals and the seizure of almost $60 million dollars and 23 tons of drugs, among other assets. The operation targeted the Sinaloa drug cartel, one of the four main cartels that have brought many Mexican law enforcement agencies to their knees. In spite of the statements made by Mexican officials, the power of these cartels is almost unparalleled and now threatens to extend into the United States.

Mexican drug cartels have turned into extremely successful enterprises backed by extraordinary firepower. Although these cartels are not motivated by political goals (they are motivated by profit), they have infiltrated some of the most guarded and strategic Mexican law enforcement agencies. When cartels are not successful in corrupting Mexican officials, or when they just want to send a signal, they turn to the murder of high-value targets. In February 21, the chief of police of Ciudad Juarez resigned as a result of a cartel’s demands, which were accompanied by the assassination of two police officers. In 2008 there were close to 6,000 deaths related to drugs.

American officials now fear that the violence will cross the border. What is certain is that the United States has been playing an important role on current events in Mexico. The demand for drugs in the United States not only fuels the drug trade, but weapons bought by cartel operatives in the United States have also been crossing the border into Mexico. Unfortunately, neither the demand for drugs nor the sale of weapons has been seriously addressed by the United States government. However, the latter has been implementing a series of operations since the late 1960s in order to curve the production and traffic of drugs. Unlike Operation Xcellerator, operations Intercept, Cooperation, Condor, and Vanguard all targeted drug cartels in Latin American and Mexican territories. Xcellerator targeted a Mexican cartel on American soil. Evidently, these operations have not been particularly successful in the long run.

Nevertheless, it is possible that both Mexican and American governments are now more aware of potential problems and difficulties (from American unilateralism, the kidnapping of Mexican citizens, and Mexican widespread corruption) and negotiated an effective Mérida Initiative. Yet, the question is whether the initiative will pay off before both countries have to literally fight drug cartels in both sides of the border.