Mexico Fights Drug Cartels, Questions Police Officers

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

In the ongoing battle against organized crime, the Mexican government authorized the detention of 23 police officers in the towns of Chalco and Valle De Chalco, to question them about existing corruption and allegiances to the infamous Zetas drug cartel. Early in October, Mexican marines fatally shot Zetas leader Heriberto Lazcano. Since then, reports have circulated indicating that the Zetas have now joined forces with the violent MS-13 gang, comprising of Mexican, Salvadoran, and other Central American members. Around the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department labeled the MS-13 as a transnational criminal organization. This label entitles the United States to target the gang’s financial lines and seize criminal profits transmitted through the United States. In 2006, Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched a war against this and other cartels. Since then, an estimated 60,000 lives have been lost.

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