Presenting a Threat Brief on the Drug Cartels and Security Environment in Mexico
1. Enabling Learning Objectives
Tasks: Present a Threat Brief on Mexico.
Conditions: Given student handouts, FM 2-22.3, AR 381-172,
AR 525-13, AR 381-20 and AR 381-10.
Standards: Apply lessons learned to the current Threat
environment and provide recommendation to a Commander on
how to accomplish the HUMINT mission and mitigate the threat.
UNCLASSIFIED
6. Religion
Roman Catholics: 82.7%, 97% percent of whom attend
church services weekly
Protestantism: About 9% of the population
Seventh-day Adventist: About 488,946 people
Jehovah's Witnesses: 1.1%
Nonreligious: 3.1% and growing annually by an estimated
5.2%
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Buddhism: 108,701 Buddhists are counted in
Mexico. Also one of six Tibet Houses in the world -
Casa Tibet México - is located in Mexico City.
Islam: Is present, but mainly practiced by
members of the Arab, Turkish, and other
expatriate communities who have migrated to
Mexico and a small number of the indigenous
population in Chiapas that practices Islam
UNCLASSIFIED
7. EconomicsMexico is the 13th largest in the
world and the 11th by purchasing
power parity
90% of Mexican trade is under
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
with more than 40 countries
United States and Canada
accounted for almost 90% of its
exports and 55% of its imports
17.6% of Mexico's population
lived in extreme poverty, while
21% lived in moderated poverty.
13.7% total poverty
Electronics – Mexico is the top
producer of TV and smartphones
in the world
Mexico is the
6th
largest oil
producer in
the world
3,700,00
barrels a day
Tourism - 8th
most visited country in
the world
Mexicans living abroad (mainly in the USA) send an
estimated $18 billion home to their families annually
UNCLASSIFIED
8. Political
The politics of Mexico take
place in a framework of a
federal presidential
prepresentative democratic
republic government is
based on a congressional
system, whereby the
president is both the head
of state and government.
The government is divided
into three branches:
executive, legislative and
judicial.
Elected by popular vote for one time
6 year term
UNCLASSIFIED
9. Legal SystemNapoleonic Law
Defendant presumed guilty, until
proven innocent
If lucky, prosecutor prepares case
Both cases submitted to a judgeSupreme Court
More than 85% of those charged
with a crime are sentenced
“Crooked cops regularly solve cases by
grabbing the first person they find, often along
with a cooked-up story from someone claiming
to be an eyewitness. Prosecutors and judges
play along, eager to calm a growing public
outcry over high crime rates and rising violence
from Mexico's war on illicit drug gangs.”
12% of crimes are reported to
the police
via writing, no jury or oral testimony
Decision rendered on the documentation presented y prosecution and defense
No death penalty exists in Mexico (like most Latin American countries)
UNCLASSIFIED
10. Law EnforcementState Police
Each of the country's thirty-one states maintain
both preventive and judicial police called the
State Judicial Police. State police are under the
direction of the state's governor. The distinction
between crimes investigated by State and
Federal Judicial Police is not always clear. Most
offenses come under the state authorities. Drug
dealing, crimes against the government, and
offenses involving several jurisdictions are the
responsibility of the federal police. The state-level preventive police forces
are together perhaps 90,000-strong, and the state-level judicial police
perhaps 25,000-strong.
Municipalities
Some of the municipalities of Mexico havve their
own preventive and municipal police forces, which
are responsible for handling minor civil
disturbances and traffic infractions. Of the 2,395
municipalities, 335 have no police forces.
However, some of the municipal forces are large
and important.
Attack at a police station in the town of Los
Ramones. More than a 1,000 rounds and
launched 6 grenades at the building.
Arrest of a drug smuggler in Juarez
UNCLASSIFIED
11. Law Enforcement: Policía Federal Preventiva
Employees 40,000+ officers
and staff (2009)
Annual budget $34.6 Billion
USD (2010)
Mission: Compliance with
legal framework to combat
organized crime and drugs. The establishment of the
National System of Public Security. The evaluation and
adjustment of the strategy for drug control in Mexico and
as it relateds to the USA.
Most police are paid $340 monthly
Training: 90 days total. 60 w/their unit and 30 w/USA
Policia Federal patrol through
Tijuana
Problem: CORRUPTION
UNCLASSIFIED
12. Law Enforement: Special
CENAPI, National Center for Information, Analysis and Planning in order to
Fight Crime. Coordinates with other federal, state and municipal
government agencies. Clearinghouse for the data gathered by the various
entities in the fight against organized crime. Focus primarly on narcotics.
SIEDO, Subprocuraduría de Investigación Especializada en Delincuencia
Organizada (Assistant Attorney General's Office for Special Investigations
on Organized Crime). Total of 291 agents. Specialized investigation unit,
one year of training.
AFI, Agencia Federal de Investigación, was a federal agency that existed to
fight corruption and organized crime, through an executive order by President.
1/5 of its officers were soon under investigation for criminal activity. Because
of corruption, the unit was dismanteled in May 2009
UNCLASSIFIED
13. Military
In 2006, 45,000 troops of the
Mexican Army were deployed to
fight drug cartels with the number
rising to 50,000 by October 2010
Army -active duty force of 192,000
Navy – 56,000 personnel, over 189 ships, and 130 aircraft
Air Force -11,770 personnel aprox. 363 aircraft
Guillermo Galván Galván, a Mexican general, is the Secetary
of National Defense
Problem: POWER
UNCLASSIFIED
15. Drug Cartels: Origin
The birth of all Mexican drug cartels are traced to former Mexican Judicial
Federal Police agent Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo “The Godfather”, who in
the 1980s controlled all illegal drug trade in Mexico and the corridors
across the Mexico-USA border. He started off by smuggling marijuana and
opium into the USA and was the first Mexican drug capo to link up with
Colombias cocain cartels in the 1980s. Through his connections, Félix
Gallardo became the point man for the Medellin cartel, which was run by
Pabol Escobar.
Félix Gallardo was arrested on 8 April 1989. Other arrests, greed, and
desire for more power stimulated conflicts between the newly formed and
now independent cartels.
There were no cartels at
that time in Mexico
UNCLASSIFIED
17. Drug Cartels: Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
The Beltrán-Leyva Cartel is a Mexican drug cartel and organized crime
syndicate founded by the four Beltrán Leyva brothers: Marcos Arturo, Carlos,
Alfredo, and Hector.
The cartel is responsible for cocain transportation and wholesaling, marijuana
production and wholesaling, and heroin production and wholesaling, controls
numerous drug trafficking corridors, and engages in human trafficing, money
Laundering, extortion, kidnapping, murder, and gun running. They were
Formerly Aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel, but are now allies of Los Zetas.
UNCLASSIFIED
18. Drug Cartels: Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel began to contest the Gulf Cartel’s domination of the
coveted southwest Texas corridor following the arrest of Gulf Cartel
Leader Osiel Cardenas in March 2003. The "Federation" was the result
of a 2006 accord between several groups located in the Pacific state
of Sinaloa. The cartel is led by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, Mexico's
most-wanted drug trafficker and whose estimated net worth of US $1 billion
makes him the 701st richest man in the world, according to Forbes
Magazine. May 2010, numerous reports by Mexican and US media
claimed that Sinaloa had infiltrated the Mexican federal government
and military, and colluded with it to destroy the other cartels.
UNCLASSIFIED
19. Drug Cartels: Juarez Cartel
Juarez Cartel controls one of the primary transportation routes for billions of
Dollars worth of illegal drug shipments annually entering the United States
from Mexico. Since 2007, the Juarez Cartel has been locked in a vicious
Battle with its former partner, The Sinaloa Cartel, for control of Ciudad Juarez.
This has resulted in Juarez being the deadliest city in Mexico. La Linea is
a group pf Mexican drug traffickers and corrupt Juarez and Chihuahua
state police officers who work as the armed wing of the Juarez Cartel.
Vincente Carrillo Fuentes heads the Juarez Cartel.
known to decapitate their rivals and mutilate their corpses and
dump them in public to instill fear
UNCLASSIFIED
20. Corruption
Edelmiro Cavazos, mayor
of Santiagot
Its estimated that gangsters and cartels pass out some
$100 million each month to local and state cops on the take
10% of police force is under payroll of drug cartel
25% of special unit officers are under payroll of drug cartel
30% of government employees are under payroll of drug
cartel
Bribery: 14% of Mexican income is spent bribing
government official’s
Police recycles
Kickbacks
Security Services
Fear
Police officer taking a bribe from an American not
to arrest him
Friends and family
silence a woman whos
husband was murdered
from speaking out in
court
UNCLASSIFIED
21. Juarez
American murder
victim
1,321,004 inhabitants
About 10,670 businesses – 40% of the total – have shut
since 2007
7500 federal troops and police patrol through Juarez against
the drug cartels
Juárez's murder rate was the highest reported in the world,
exceeding the holders of the second and third highest rates
by more than 25%
In 2010, the number of homicides in the city reached 3,075,
Tax payers in El Paso spent over $1 million in 2009 for
shooting victims
Juarez is the 4th largest in Mexico
Largest international trade center
for US/Mexico
Mother of a murder
victim
Vehicle inspection
UNCLASSIFIED
27. If........................Then
If Mexico is unsuccessful at eliminated
the drug cartels and they continue to
operate in Juarez...
The United States will invest more
funding and training towards the war on
drugs. More Soldiers will be allocated in
the support of border operations, better
fencing will be built, and stricter policy
will be developed. The America people,
especially those along the border will
demand actions be taken to stop the
murders from taking place along the
border and stop the drugs from coming
in.
If Mexico is able to eliminate the drug
cartels operating in Juarez...
The immediate economy will take a
plunge until it is able to reestablish itself
in a normal operating environment. The
amount of crime will raise as people try
to the higher order of operating and
those who were involved in drug cartel
are rounded up. The need for honest
police will be a high priority.
UNCLASSIFIED
32. Solutions
UNCLASSIFIED
Remove the cartels and protect the citizens of Mexico from other outside
Influences coming into the area.
Maintain a secure environment free from corruption.
Americans stop buying drugs and the drug dealers will have no job.
Biggest step in hurting the business operations of Mexican cartels would be
simply to legalize their main product: marijuana.
33. 2nd
...3rd
Order Effects
Solution 2nd 3rd
Cartels are removed
from Mexico –
Tourism pro
2005 356,000 vehicle passengers
daily
2009 242,000 vehicle passengers
daily
After cartels removed: Back up to
356,000 or more
2005 drop 13.2%
2009 drop 19.7%
Raise back up to normal standards
of American crossing for business,
family, and pleasure
Cartels are removed
from Mexico –
Tourism con
Other drug cartels move into the area
to claim territory
Murders, assassinations, and
attacks increase as retaliation
Cartels
removed/corruption
prevented –
business pro
Unemployment
5.5% in 2008
8.2% in 2009
9.3% in 2010
Decrease in unemployment rates
People will start to fight back and
protect what is theirs
Cartels
removed/corruption
prevented –
business pro
2009 210,000 people left, 32,700
homes abandoned
2010 116,000 houses abandoned,
270,000 people left
People will return and claim what is
theirs
The gap dividing the city of Juarez
will disappear
Cartels
removed/corruption
prevented –
business con
People will not return, settled into
new lives else where. Squatters wont
turn over property
New forms of corruption and
methods developed
UNCLASSIFIED
34. 2nd
...3rd
Order Effects
Solution 2nd 3rd
Cartels are
removed from
Mexico –
Economic pro
People will come across the border to
shop and spend money, increasing
the economy. More jobs, more
money.
Trade will increase
Cartels are
removed from
Mexico –
Economic con
Economy will fall. 63% comes
from drug business
Drug loans will cease,
preventing people from
“starting up”
Corruption and
bribery
eliminated at
government level
Cost of government projects
will decrease and allow for
more to be done
Better product for cost due to
competition
UNCLASSIFIED
35. HUMINT Requirements
1. How many members does the Juarez Cartel have?
2. What key governmental employees are on the Juarez Cartel payroll?
3. What police officers are on the Juarez Cartel payroll?
4. When do key members of the Juarez Cartel meet?
5. When are shipments made to the USA?
6. Routes of smuggling?
7. Vehicles used by the Juarez Cartel?
8. Money house locations?
9. Drug house locations?
10. Phone numbers of key members?
11. Detailed descriptions of key members?
12. SPOT information about assassinations?
13. Who does the Juarez Cartel feel most threatened by and why?
14. Organization structure?
15. When and how are shipments made to the cartel?
UNCLASSIFIED
36. PPolitical
MMilitary/
Security
EEconomic
SSocial
IInfrastructure
IInformation
AAreas
Party affiliated areas,
Cartel’s Politically
influenced areas
PGR and SEDENA
bases, Known Cartel
locations and routes
Farming areas,
financial institutions, Air
Travel Services
smuggling routes,
locations of illicit
exchange, mining area
Traditional gathering
areas, parties
Highways, areas used
for drug smuggling,
areas away from the
general population
Radio/TV/paper
coverage areas, word
of mouth gathering
points, Graffiti, posters
SStructures
State / District Centers,
Polling Sites, Court
House
Preventive and Judicial
Police HQ’s, Cartel
leader’s
house/business
Day cares, gyms,
electronic stores,
meatpacking plants,
dairies, hotels, gas
stations, banks,
Pharmacies, mining
structure, industrial
plants
Churches, coffee
chops, popular
restaurants
Roads, bridges, Low
border fences and
walls, compounds,
rivers
Cell, radio and TV
towers, print shops
CCapabilities
Dispute resolution,
local leadership,
Justice System
Preventive and Judicial
Police, Investigative
Agents of the Public
Ministry, Defecting from
the Mexican Military
Bank and small
business loans, money
laundering
Strength of family
traditional structures,
Priests, Traditional
means of justice (eye
for an eye)
Ability to smuggle
drugs on roads, over
walls and fences,
Conduct Cartel
Operations inside
compounds
Literacy rate,
availability of electronic
media, phone service
OOrganizations
Political parties, group
affiliations, Court
system
SEDENA, Public
Ministry, Policia
Federal Preventiva,
Cartel Enforcer Gangs
Banks, large
landholders near
borders, cooperatives,
Travel and Export
Agencies, Major illicit
industries
Families, soccer clubs,
rich people
Transportation
Companies,
Construction
Companies, Real
Estate Companies
News organizations,
influential churches,
Cartel Propaganda
Network
PPeople
Mayors, councils,
Judges, prosecutors,
Public Ministry
Prosecutors,
Preventive and Judicial
Police Chiefs,
Bankers, landholders,
merchants, money
lenders, Illegal
facilitators, pilots,
smuggling chain
Catholic Priests,
influential families,
Entertainment figures
Builders, road
contractors, Realtors
Media owners, Priests,
Educators, Reporters,
Radio DJ’s
EEvents
Elections, Municipal
council meetings,
Significant Court Cases
Shoot-outs with
Cartels, unit TTP’s,
Military Defectors,
operations
Business opening, loss
of business, Open-
House Advertising,
Foreclosures
Quinceaneras, Sweet
16’s, holidays,
weddings,
deaths/funerals, births,
graduations
Road/bridge
construction, Wall /
Fence Construction,
Construction of Isolated
Communities
Sunday Mass,
publishing dates, IO
campaigns, project
openings, Cartel
Incidents
Measures to track effects...
UNCLASSIFIED
37. Working With Others
1. How many members does the Juarez Cartel have?
2. What key governmental employees are on the Juarez Cartel payroll?
3. What police officers are on the Juarez Cartel payroll?
4. When do key members of the Juarez Cartel meet?
5. When are shipments made to the USA?
6. Routes of smuggling?
7. Vehicles used by the Juarez Cartel?
8. Money house locations?
9. Drug house locations?
10. Phone numbers of key members?
11. Detailed descriptions of key members?
12. SPOT information about assassinations?
13. Who does the Juarez Cartel feel most threatened by and why?
14. Organization structure?
15. When and how are shipments made to the cartel?
UNCLASSIFIED
