Drug Cartel Leader Killed

This is kind of an update on a previous post about Drug Trafficking south of the U.S. Border. Dec 18

Arturo Beltran Levya was killed in a raid on his home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The Army of Mexico, its Navy, and the DEA all participated. According to CNN, the Navy of Mexico was the deciding factor.

From the story by the Christian Science Monitor: "Why it matters"

Beltran Leyva split with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, seen as Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpin and the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, in early 2008. The Beltrán Leyva organization is said to be allied with the Zetas, a criminal ring founded by Mexican army turncoats who are especially strong on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. Beltrán Leyva’s organization also maintains a strong presence in Sinaloa and Morelos, the state south of the Mexican capital, where Cuernavaca is located.

It matters mostly, initially, in the Gulf region of Mexico, where lesser members of the organization will fight to gain power over the vacant spot in the trade.

It will then matter next to the Caribbean, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Texas--as shipments get erratic, fought over by crooks, or resumed. Refugees from the battle will be heading this way via land--they will be refugees with guns and money and involvement. Last of all, it may affect drug traffic in Mexican Mafia but more likely Texas' Mexicanemi gang, and to Florida, as supplies get erratic, etc. etc.

We're lucky Mexico wants DEA input, and works with ICE (immigration), because it helps us coordinate our own intelligence and actions. They're lucky to have us too. As the quote from the CSM points out, their army has turncoats, all because of the greater money and force of the drug cartels.

A little more on Mexico's fight against drug trafficking