Why are groups being killed in Mexico?
May 13, 2012 4:31 PM Subscribe
Who are Mexican drug cartels killing in large numbers?
I keep reading about 20, 30, 40 headless bodies found in XYZ Mexican town. Who are all these people being killed and why?
I keep reading about 20, 30, 40 headless bodies found in XYZ Mexican town. Who are all these people being killed and why?
Response by poster: Yes, but why would either cartel kill immigrants looking to cross the border?
posted by pallen123 at 4:50 PM on May 13, 2012
posted by pallen123 at 4:50 PM on May 13, 2012
My understanding is that lot of the victims are civilians, or people with low-level drug connections, or activists and journalists. Cartels kill and mutilate civilians to intimidate the general population and mock the ineffectiveness of the police. They also kill employees of the rival organization as a show of force and to win turf. I really, really don't like throwing the word terrorism around, but I think it's appropriate in this case.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 4:55 PM on May 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Nibbly Fang at 4:55 PM on May 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yes, but why would either cartel kill immigrants looking to cross the border?
While the vast majority of them are just looking for work, a small fraction of them are actually ferrying the drugs across the border in exchange for assistance in crossing the border.
So, if Cartel A is famously killing the immigrants working for Cartel B ... Cartel B will get fewer immigrants looking to help carry drugs over the border. And getting drugs over the border is how you make money.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:02 PM on May 13, 2012
While the vast majority of them are just looking for work, a small fraction of them are actually ferrying the drugs across the border in exchange for assistance in crossing the border.
So, if Cartel A is famously killing the immigrants working for Cartel B ... Cartel B will get fewer immigrants looking to help carry drugs over the border. And getting drugs over the border is how you make money.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:02 PM on May 13, 2012
They've also been killing reporters who are too curious about things.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:43 PM on May 13, 2012
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:43 PM on May 13, 2012
Ed Vulliamy has written about this (short answer: it's horrible, and complicated).
posted by hydatius at 2:19 AM on May 14, 2012
posted by hydatius at 2:19 AM on May 14, 2012
One reason they might kill people trying to cross the border is just plain old theft. You set yourself up as a coyote, take a few thousand bucks from your marks, and then kill them without having to do the heavy lifting of sneaking them into the US.
I don't know about the specifics of these cartels, but often times it is much more expedient to just kill people that get in your way. If you are going to be a murderous thug anyway.
posted by gjc at 6:45 AM on May 14, 2012
I don't know about the specifics of these cartels, but often times it is much more expedient to just kill people that get in your way. If you are going to be a murderous thug anyway.
posted by gjc at 6:45 AM on May 14, 2012
For ransom money: "Groups such as the Zetas drug cartel in Mexico find it profitable to demand ransoms from captive migrants' relatives, especially if they are in the US. They recruit some hostages as footsoldiers." in the Guardian
posted by lucia__is__dada at 7:41 AM on May 14, 2012
posted by lucia__is__dada at 7:41 AM on May 14, 2012
As mentioned in this Extra Credits (about 1 minute in),
The answer to your question is easy, and yet not so easy: People are being killed. One of the stories hydatius links to mentions a victim who was "a model and a cheerleader for the local soccer team." The bodies of a dozen victims were laid out in front of an elementary school, presumably as a warning to kids growing up in the neighborhood.
It isn't hyperbole to call this a war.
posted by giraffe at 11:10 AM on May 14, 2012
"It's not a conventional war. No one's playing by the rules in this game. Rape, torture and kidnapping are all regular tools in this conflict. The battlegrounds are apartment blocks and neighborhoods. Children and families are both its victims and its weapons. And the worst part is, it's a conflict without end, because neither side has a clear end goal."The LA Times has a collection of stories.
The answer to your question is easy, and yet not so easy: People are being killed. One of the stories hydatius links to mentions a victim who was "a model and a cheerleader for the local soccer team." The bodies of a dozen victims were laid out in front of an elementary school, presumably as a warning to kids growing up in the neighborhood.
It isn't hyperbole to call this a war.
posted by giraffe at 11:10 AM on May 14, 2012
They are killing people crossing the border because usually they have asked them to smuggle drugs for them and the people refuse to do it.
The large numbers of people being killed is simply escalation. On top of this, most cartels have a military wing. This wing is usually made up of ex-Mexican Special Forces. These special forces were trained by our own special forces and the CIA. When the cartels offer waaay more money to these guys to work for them they jump at the chance. Some examples of these armed wings are: Los Zetas (created by the Gulf Cartel) or Los Negros (created by the Sinaloa Cartel). Although, in the case of the Zetas, they became so strong they split off from a weakening Gulf Cartel and became their own full-fledged cartels.
Now, about the numbers. Remember how I said Los Zetas and Los Negros were hardened SF killers? That's why the bodies. These people are even crazier than the organizational leaders who created their group. They think nothing of torture because it is their trade. They are professional killers. In fact, the Zetas essentially are responsible for bringing things to this level. Now every cartel responds this way (see: Juarez Cartel, for example).
It is almost an understatement to call this war. This is hell on earth.
posted by basicchannel at 10:35 AM on May 15, 2012
The large numbers of people being killed is simply escalation. On top of this, most cartels have a military wing. This wing is usually made up of ex-Mexican Special Forces. These special forces were trained by our own special forces and the CIA. When the cartels offer waaay more money to these guys to work for them they jump at the chance. Some examples of these armed wings are: Los Zetas (created by the Gulf Cartel) or Los Negros (created by the Sinaloa Cartel). Although, in the case of the Zetas, they became so strong they split off from a weakening Gulf Cartel and became their own full-fledged cartels.
Now, about the numbers. Remember how I said Los Zetas and Los Negros were hardened SF killers? That's why the bodies. These people are even crazier than the organizational leaders who created their group. They think nothing of torture because it is their trade. They are professional killers. In fact, the Zetas essentially are responsible for bringing things to this level. Now every cartel responds this way (see: Juarez Cartel, for example).
It is almost an understatement to call this war. This is hell on earth.
posted by basicchannel at 10:35 AM on May 15, 2012
The Washington Post touched on this today: "The two most important criminal organizations in Mexico are engaged in all-out war, and the most spectacular battles are being fought for the cameras as the combatants pursue a strategy of intimidation and propaganda by dumping ever greater numbers of headless bodies in public view — the victims most likely innocents."
posted by donpedro at 2:43 PM on May 24, 2012
posted by donpedro at 2:43 PM on May 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
But the answer I think you're looking for is the Zetas/Sinaloa rivalry. Sinaloa has more money; Zetas has more guns and apparently more expertise/willingness with violence -- Zetas was founded by ex-Mexican Army special forces.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:36 PM on May 13, 2012