Major Blow to Mexican Drug Cartel

Since Wednesday, U.S. authorities have arrested 303 people, in a nationwide raid that targeted the La Familia Mexican drug ring. Supporting the raid, Attorney General Eric H. Holder commented, “These are drugs that were headed for our streets and weapons that often were headed for the streets of Mexico.”  The operation was part of a 44-month investigation named Project Coronado, and took place in 38 U.S. cities.  La Familia is considered one of the largest and most violent Mexican drug cartels, and represents one of the major traffickers of methamphetamine in the United States. The operation signals the U.S. government’s commitment to its partnership with Mexico in the war against drugs. In addition to the arrests of 1,186 members of La Familia, Project Coronado has also helped seize over $32 million dollars, 2,700 pounds of crystal meth, 16,000 pounds of marijuana, 389 weapons, and 269 vehicles.

Project Coronado, initiated in 2006, attempts to address the traffic of narcotics and its externalities by disrupting drug cartels’ supply chains of illegal drugs, weapons, and cash flows. Narco-traffic has claimed over 15,000 lives in Mexico since 2006, and even though the U.S. has given around $1.4 billion dollars in aid to Mexico through the Merida initiative. Despite the success of the raid, some critics in Mexico have argued that actions such as the raid may do little to reduce the spike of violence occurring within Mexico’s borders. While La Familia is only one of five major drug cartels, Project Coronado addresses supply side issues, leaving demand for drugs within the US a critical issue.
 

Picture created by CSIS intern David Angel