NCJ Number
238623
Date Published
February 2011
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Using Mexican Government data on homicides linked to organized crime, this report documents the extent of drug-related violence in Mexico through 2010.
Abstract
The report indicates that violence by Mexican drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) has increased significantly under the government of Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Four years into the Calderon administration (2006 - 2012), 34,550 killings have been officially linked to organized crime, a dramatic increase from the previous administration of President Vicente Fox (2000 - 2006), when 8,901 such killings were identified. In 2010, violence levels surpassed the levels of previous years; just over 15,000 organized-crime killings occurred in 2010, which is 44 percent of the total number documented during the Calderon administration. This is a 60-percent increase compared to the previous year. DTO killings have been concentrated in certain Mexican States, with 56 percent of such homicides occurring in 4 of Mexico's 32 States. Within these 4 States, 70 percent of the drug-related homicides occurred in 80 municipalities. The perpetrators of the violence in 2010 have targeted government officials and civilians. Victims included 14 mayors and 11 journalists. In 2010, the Mexican Government's counter-DTO campaign led to the capture of several high-profile drug traffickers. Authorities believe these arrests may help to reduce drug-related violence. On the other hand, the power vacuum in DTOs may increase violence among traffickers themselves. 2 tables