Battles, Tanks, Missiles, but no Insurgency in Mexico

Refugees fleeing towns to escape the fighting, corpses strewn on the road after a battle between rival groups, and combat involving tanks, high-caliber guns, and anti-aircraft missiles -- the events…

High Gun Seizures in Mexico: Not a Sign of Success

A huge rise in gun seizures in Mexico, which have gone up 16-fold over the last four years, indicates the failure of customs authorities to stop weapons entering the country…

Nicaragua's Navy, Little-Known Partner in US Drug War

In his political rhetoric, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega makes no secret of his often hostile views towards U.S. foreign policy. The irony is that Nicaragua may be among the U.S.'s…

Ventilated Drug Tunnel Found At Arizona Border

The Tucson Border Patrol said they have discovered a smuggling tunnel, equipped with ventiliation and electricity, at the border between Mexico and Arizona.

Bin Laden, the Drug War and the Kingpin Strategy

The death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan reminds us that the U.S.’s priority in the fight against criminal groups is to capture or kill their leaders. But is the…

Mexico Passes Money Laundering Law

On April 29 the Mexican Senate approved an anti-money laundering bill, reports OEM. The law will set penalties of up to 16 years for people and organizations that…

A Reduction in Supply? Analyzing Recent Cocaine Price Trends

U.S. anti-drug officials often claim that government policies have limited the supply of cocaine in the country and caused the street price of the drug to rise. However, long-term price…

InSight Map: Counting Federal Casualties in Mexico

The Mexican government has announced that since 2000, 470 federal forces have been killed in fighting against organized crime, with 84 percent of that number coming during the presidency of…

Hang-wringing over U.S. 'Spies' in Mexico

According to the Mexican Attorney General's Office, there are currently more than 500 U.S. personnel operating in Mexico, up from 60 U.S. agents in 2005, reports Juarez-based newspaper…

US Drones in Mexico Spark Debate

Reactions to recent reports that United States drones are now flying over Mexican territory were mixed this week, as Mexican lawmakers try to determine exactly how much U.S. presence they…

US-Based Security Contractors Expand Operations in Mexico

With Mexico’s drug violence breaking records, a number of United States-based security companies are expanding operations in the country. Although many of these firms are highly involved in counter-narcotics efforts there,…

Council on Foreign Relations Special Report: The Drug War in Mexico, Confronting a Shared Threat

David A. Shirk, the director of the Trans-Border Institute and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of San Diego, has a new report examining the dynamics…