Foreword: U.S.-Mexican Border Violence
Gun Trafficking and the Fight Against Cartels
For the past few years, drug-related violence in Mexico has reached epidemic proportions. More than 6,500 people were killed in 2009 alone — up from 6,200 in 2008 and 2,700 in 2007. Much of the increase in violent crime has been attributed to the Mexican Government’s crackdown on criminal cartels, which was initiated in December 2006 by the newly inaugurated president, Felipe Calderón. Law enforcement pressure increased the competition between crime organizations for key smuggling routes and distribution networks, resulting in intense battles and greater loss of life. Government officials, journalists, and civilians have been caught in the crossfire. For…
