Los Zetas Drug cartel as an Explanation of Marginalization and Violence in Mexican Politics - Research Paper Example

? Los Zetas Drug cartel as an Explanation of Marginalization and Violence in Mexican Politics Introduction One of the most powerful modern drug cartels in the world is the Los Zetas. Los Zetas, which is found in Mexico, has widespread influence on the drug business in Mexico and the US. The drug cartel has spread its wings to other parts of north and Central America. Los Zetas has been known for its ruthless spate of murders, and kidnaps. Since the formation of the criminal gang in 1999, Los Zetas is considered the second biggest drug cartel in Mexico after the Gulf cartel. Los Zetas operates successfully as a criminal gang due to its affiliation to powerful politicians in the provinces that it controls. The influence of drug cartels in Mexican politics is historical with wide ramifications on the people of the area. Los Zetas explains the historical and current trend of marginalization, violence, corruption and influence of illegal drugs on Mexican politics. This people will discuss by giving illustrations on how Los Zetas explains marginalization, violence, corruption and illegal drugs influence in Mexican politics. Background of Los Zetas Los Zetas started as security group for the top members of the gulf cartel in 1999. The founding members of Los Zetas were fourteen former Mexican Special forces who offered security services for the Gulf cartel, which is considered the most notorious drug cartel in Mexican history. Osiel Cardenas Guillen who was a member of the gulf cartel since the Mid 90’s founded Los Zetas. With the help of three Military personnel, Guillen managed to consolidate himself as the kingpin of the group on the Mexican gulf through the elimination of his rivals in the Gulf cartel. The ruthless and professionalism of the group made it easy for Guillen to effectively scare and take over the territories of his enemies. By 2004, Guillen had been captured and his main bodyguard Arturo Guzman had been killed. The remaining members of the group took over the reins but with Guillen still controlling the group. Accusations of Guillen and Los Zetas being protected by powerful politicians in the state of Tamaulipas has always been considered as one of the reason that made it easy for Guillen to operate easily in the gulf of Mexico. Los Zetas transformed itself into a full drug cartel with the weakening of the Gulf cartel and the ascendancy of Heriberto Lazcano who was a founding member of the security group. Los Zetas success is attributed to the disintegration of the Gulf cartel. By 2010, Los Zetas had fully made itself independent from the gulf cartel and with Lazcano as its head, furthermore, the group recruited its members from states as far as Texas in the US and in Guatemala. it increased its financial base from being simply a drug cartel, into assassins for hire, running prostitution rings, casinos, music piracy, controlling the mining industry and even working as muscles for some politicians. Currently, Los Zetas and its allies face the rivalry from the Sinaola cartel, which is the other powerful cartel in Mexico. Areas that Los Zetas controls Los Zetas is considered a newer drug cartel compared to its rivals. It is estimated that los Zetas controls 11 states or more in Mexico. Apart from Mexico, Los Zetas can be found actively in Texas and in Guatemala. The drug cartel is considered the biggest one in geographical terms when compared to the Siniola drug cartel, which is the chief rival of the group. Los Zetas is found in states such as Nuevo Laredo, Coahuila, tabasco, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacan, Oacxaca and even parts of Mexico City. The group has become ruthless because of its ability to recruit corrupt members of the police force. The group is also known to have training camps where members of Guatemala military train new recruits. All those happens even in the presence of elected government, judicial and police officials. Marginalization as a cause of thriving of Los Zetas success In order to understand the success of Los Zetas, it is important to understand the cultural history of Mexico and in a broader view, the rest of Latin America. Slavery, military dictatorships and poverty have always defined the history of Latin America. Latin America has always been taken advantage of by Europe and North America. The events in the early days of colonization influenced the political and cultural landscape in the Mexican gulf. With poverty being rife after the Second World War, Latin American economies expanded but at a slow rate to the extent that they could not manage to handle the rising populations. However, the neighboring North American societies thrived during this time due to the historical demarcations that have defined and discriminated these two cultures. Mexico provided the US with cheap agricultural foodstuffs making millions of Mexicans to remain in impoverished conditions. During the cold war, while the US and its western allies were busy fending off the threat of Russia and china, most of Latin American countries were suffering internal strife due to the problems of guerillas and the problem of military dictatorships. In Mexico, the governments during this time were accused of marginalization, which resulted into formations of Guerilla groups that fought the government. Military dictatorship in the country led to the kidnapping, killing and torturing of its own people. Due to lack of political will, guerilla groups transformed themselves as drug cartels to control black markets and with emphasis on smuggling of drugs to the US, where illegal drugs promised a big financial base (Freeman, 2006). Through the marginalization of the Mexican people by both the colonial governments and their own self-government, coca, remained as one of the major cultural products amongst the Latin American’s. Mexicans have used Coca to relive hunger, fatigue, and even sickness. Amongst some Mexican indigenous groups, coca is a religious symbol that was offered to gods. Growing coca is not a crime in many parts of the Latin world. However, the use of coca in making drugs such as cocaine is unlawful and outlawed in Mexico (Freeman, 2006). The emergence of Los Zetas was hugely influenced by these historical and political events in Mexico. Since the 1970s, many poor families in Mexico found refuge in coca. With the cold war, guerilla groups transformed themselves into powerful drug cartels that even created means of getting to the US without being detected. The continued rise in poverty in Mexico has resulted to young people to join organizations ran by drug barons in order to survive. The Los Zetas through its violence and finances attracts while at the same time coerces and forces youths and other people in poverty-impoverished parts of Mexico to join the organization. Because of marginalization from the central powers in the classed society in Mexico, those who are from poor backgrounds easily join drug cartels such as Los Zetas. Hence, Los Zetas not only reflects and explains the problem of marginalization in Mexico but it also explains the failed political system and its failure to solve problems that the poor people in these regions face (Logan, 2012). Los Zetas as a reflection of Corruption in Mexican politics Mexico has been known to have extensive cases of corruption amongst its government, judicial and police officials. Because of corruption, Los Zetas has thrived due to its power to corrupt with its huge financial base. Policies that have been suggested by both the US and the Mexican governments to tackle corruption and the drug problem have been ineffective due to the lack of goodwill from both countries (Logan, 2012). Tamaulipas is considered a failed state in Mexican politics due to the political corruption that is rife through the help of Los Zetas and the gulf cartel. In 2010, Los Zetas carried out the execution of one of the state candidates due to political corruption. Drug traffickers have infiltrated the political scene in the state, which culminated in the killing of 72 migrants in a barbaric manner. The Mexican government has been considered to have lost control over the region with the regional government being unable to come to a clear conclusion on how to handle the group (Lindau, 2012). Before 2000, the major Mexican drug cartels had the political backing from the ruling PRI party through agreements that had been signed before. However, with a win and change of regime by the Pan, or the National Action Party, this agreement were discarded and this began the modern era in drug related violence and mayhem. PRI was accused of supporting the Gulf and Los Zetas drug cartels in the region. Elections in the state of Tamaulipas have always encountered opposition from the two organized crime gangs (Logan, 2012). Furthermore, the influence of the Los Zetas group has been seen as having been critical in the elections of three former governors in the state. This governors were seen as having offered protection to the group in exchange for huge finances. A number of mayors in the state have also been arrested and charged for having aided or not performing their functions fully in controlling the drug cartels (Logan, 2012). The police in states, which are controlled by these gangs, have been seen as being pro cartels and they have offered little protection to the citizens and the politicians who oppose drug cartels. A number of politicians and hundreds of innocent people have been murdered in brutal executions by the Los Zetas without the interference of the police. This is because most of the police force is underpaid and hence they are easily bribed to look the other way when the cartel carries out its operations. Los Zetas reflects the nature of government, institutional and common corruption that is rife in current and historical Mexican politics (Lindau, 2012). Weapons access as sign of political corruption The northern border of the United States is considered as an area, which is rife with weapon trading. Corruption has enabled Los Zetas to acquire powerful weapons through these borders. A number of American immigration officials have been thought to collaborate with Los Zetas in order to acquire weapons. Mexican politicians that derive the support of the group have also been instrumental in the arming of the group. With this in mind, it has been a big challenge to control the group. The ability of the gang to acquire weapons with the ability to cause large-scale violence is a reflection of political corruption. In addition, Los Zetas operates effectively across the border in their narco-terrorism. This is seen as having been facilitated by instances of corruption that enable the drug cartel two freely do business in the US (Lacey, 2009). Violence as a tool in Mexican politics Violence has always defined Mexican politics. The Spanish who used force and violence against the indigenous people of the region colonized Mexico. During this period, ancestors of modern Mexicans were exposed to violence. After independence, subsequent regimes continued with the violent trend against their own people. This resulted into many deaths. In 1929, the PRI came into power through a popular revolution. The PRI is seen as having been instrumental in political violence for the 7 decades that it was in power. The PRI regimes oversaw Mexico during the Second World War and the cold war period during which political violence was used to quash any opposition to the government. In addition to this, the PRI employed international armies to control its own people who were tired of its corrupt policies. The Los Zetas was actually trained in the US as a special Mexican paramilitary to help the PRI regime and its agenda. Because of the deep levels of poverty in the country, the PRI government had signed agreements with the drug cartels since the 1980’s which helped them grow and as criminal gangs (Lacey, 2009). The change of regime in 2000 was seen as a big blow to the drug lords and their organization. The PAN government promised to rid the country of the drug gangs. However, the attempts to disarm and scuttle drug gangs such as the Los Zetas have proved futile due to the increased use of violence by these groups. Los Zetas has been seen as one of the most dangerous drug cartel in the region through its public execution and hanging of executed people in various cities. With the lack of support from the federal and regional government, violence has defined the political atmosphere in the region. In trying to protect their interests and assets, Los Zetas has used kidnappings, executions and other scare tactics to ensure that those who want to fight them are contained. The drug war was majorly considered to involve rival gangs but currently, drug gangs have united to fight the efforts of the Mexican and American governments (Ramsey, 2012). Los Zetas in international politics relations With the transition from the PRI regime to the PAN regime, the interests of Los Zetas have crumbled over time. However, the organization has well established international networks with younger drug traffickers who are ruthless and who do not take orders from any person. Members of the zeta organization have immigrated to other countries especially the US where they control Mexican drug inlets. In the US, homicides in Alabama have been associated with Los Zetas. With continued clamping of the organization in Mexico, the US government has blamed Mexican authorities and their immigration policies, which have loopholes that allow the criminal gangs to enter the US. The US has always blamed the Mexican government for not doing enough to contain the criminal gang. The influence of Los Zetas has been one of the highest point of discussions by the DEA (Lacey, 2009). The Mexican government has also stated that the political will to scuttle drug cartels is there but the country lacks enough resources to contain and abolish drug trafficking. The US department of state shows that poppy cultivation has increased over time in Mexico compared to the PRI regime. In 2000, the number of hectares estimated to be under poppy cultivation was below 2000 hectares. In 2011, the number of poppy plantations increased to slightly above 20000 hectares. The increased trend in poppy plantations has been seen by the US as lack of political will by the Mexican government to combat gangs. The US has helped in training of special Mexican forces to contain the Los Zeta’s and other drug cartels but this has been met with opposition from some of the politicians in Mexico. The influence of Los Zetas has made some of Mexico’s top politician to be denied visas into the US due to their affiliation to the group (Serrano, 2011). The US DEA sees Los Zetas as the most dangerous drug organization due to its business style manner in which the organization handles its operations. Furthermore, the US sees Los Zetas as a danger due to its military training of its members which makes them a professional hit squad a cross the borders. The violence and the manner in which Los Zetas operates clearly indicates that the organization works with the help of certain individuals in the Mexican government who not only offer it political protection but also supply them with arms. The US and other international organizations consider Los Zetas to be a representation of a failed political system in Mexico, in fighting crime (Lacey, 2009). An aspect of international politics that has long been cited as having led to a more effective and lethal Los Zetas was the success of American troops in fighting drug gangs in Columbia. Some of the drug leaders in Columbia moved to Mexico while those who closed shop provided a wider and bigger market for cocaine from Mexico. Los Zetas epitomizes how the war on drugs is fought, with the challenges of new or smaller groups emerging and thriving after the disbandment of the bigger groups. Los Zetas started as a small security group but the fall of the Colombian drug cartels provided them with a market that could provide them more money, hence there transformation to one of the most notorious drug cartels in the world (Ramsey, 2012). The future and the impacts of Los Zetas Due to the kind of barbaric violence meted out to people by Los Zetas, the movement has become less public and some researchers see this as a manner in which they are transforming. However, already the cartel has more than 10,000 members in Mexico alone. The group has become a force to reckon with on the political platform. The group is still protected by some politicians, judicial and even law enforcement officers. The presence of the group has resulted in less or little development of many states in the Mexico. While most of the other drug cartels have near and close to border towns, los Zetas ahs extended its are of coverage even to cities such as Michigan, Minnesota and even Indiana. While the Los Zetas are made up of 10,000 strong, the gulf and Siniola group together with the Zetas own more than 100000 guns while the Mexican army owns only 130000 guns. This groups posse a more dangerous future to other regional countries because they can raise an army that they can easily arm due to the big financial flexibility that they have (Logan, 2012). Already, there are signs that Los Zetas is transforming itself into a more lethal group through its new tactics of making money. The group has taken control of coal mining plants in some parts of Mexico where workers are forced to pay some amount of money before they go to the mines. This dangerous trend should be handled politically. The political problems in Mexico have made it easy for corruption to infiltrate amongst the politicians, the judiciary, and the police to allow the group to increase its muscle over the region (Lindau, 2012). Ways of containing the drug cartel problems in Mexico Los zetas and its operation also indicate that political leaders have to find a new approach of dealing with drug cartels. While drug cartels have been fought using armies, it will be important for political leaders to employ alternative means of tackling cartel menace. One of the means that this can be done with a long lasting impact is by ensuring that poverty is eradicated in the areas that Los Zetas operate from. It is clear that Los Zetas has become powerful after authorities fought and nearly neutralized other drug cartels such as the gulf cartel. By using the military tactics and not providing youths in affected areas with long lasting solutions to alleviate poverty, the cartel menace will continue through formation of newer and more ruthless cartels. With Los Zetas, the organization started with a group of 31 people but it has expanded to thousands of young Mexicans due to the poor quality of life. Drugs offer the youths an alternative means of earning a lifestyle because of the attractive nature of the money that can be made (Sullivan and Logan, 2012). Furthermore, it is also important that politicians approach the drug issue from a different perspective. If the drug market is wiped by ensuring that those who buy drugs from the streets are eliminated, Los Zetas will wither away because they will lack the market that they need so much. The US should play an important role in reforming its society and ensuring that all drug supply routes are destroyed. This will ensure that the customer is cut off from the supplier (logan and Sullivan, 2010) Gun purchasing is an important issue in the region. Politicians should ensure that they can be able to block entry of guns and other weapons across the borders. Because it is very easy to purchase guns in the US, these guns are easily smuggled across the border and this makes its easy for the Mexican cartels to easily acquire the guns. Gun laws should be made even stricter in the US to ensure that such groups like Los Zetas cannot access this weapons that they use to cause terror and mayhem. If this is not done, it will be impossible to stop the violence that is in Mexico and which will one day spill to the US (Freeman, 2006). Conclusion Los Zetas is the most violent and feared drug cartel in modern day Mexico. The influence of the cartel covers the largest geographical area in Mexico. The drug cartel employs torture, kidnap and public executions to scare its enemies into ceding ground. Los Zetas operates the drug networks to the US, coal mining industry, kidnaps, murders for hire and prostitution rings. The manner of operation that Los Zetas employs is business-like and professional due to the military training of is members. The effectiveness of Los Zetas operations in the country and along the US border is because of the failed political system in Mexico when it comes to drug cartels. Perhaps the major conclusions that can be inferred from the operations of Los Zetas are that the Spanish employed marginalization, corruption and violence in Mexican political arena since the days of colonialism. The menace of Los Zetas illustrates the manner in which police, judicial and government officials are corrupt in Mexico. References Freeman, L. (2006). “State of Siege: Drug-Related violence and Corruption in Mexico,” WOLA Special Report Lindau, J.D. (2011). “The Drug Wars Impact on Executive Power, Judicial Reform, and Federalism in Mexico,” Political Science Quarterly 126, no. 2:182. Strategy Page (2012). The Unstoppable Los Zetas. Mexico Article Index. Retrieved from: http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mexico/articles/20120124.aspx Logan, S. (2012). A Profile of Los Zetas: Mexico’s Second Most Powerful Drug Cartel. CTC Sentinel. February 2012. Volume 5. Issue 2. Retrieved from: http://www.ciaonet.org.library.norwich.edu/journals/cs/v5i2/f_0024389_19912.pdf Grayson G.W. and Logan, S. (2012). The Executioner’s Men: Los Zetas, Rogue Soldiers, Criminal Entrepreneurs, and the Shadow State They Created. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers Logan, S.and Sullivan, S. (2010).“The Gulf-Zeta Split and the Praetorian Revolt,” ISN Security Watch, Ramsey, G. (2012).“Have the Zetas Replaced the Sinaloa as Mexico’s Most Powerful Cartel?” Insight Crime Lacey, M. (2009). Mexico: Drug Cartel’s Code of Ethics. New York Times. New York edition. Serrano, R.A. (2011). “U.S. to require more gun-buyer information in border states,” LA Times, http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/12/nation/la-na-guns-dealers-20110712 Read More