Deheading organizations does not end the market
Alejandro Martínez, professor at La Salle University, explains that the dismantling of criminal organizations does not put an end to them, but neither does it end illicit markets.
“The strategy of decapitating the cartels does not reduce the flow of drugs to the markets, on the contrary, it is so motivating in terms of the fact that illicit activities generate profits, so instead of disappearing a criminal group, it fragments and we have greater violence at the national level,” he maintains.
In addition to internal factors, criminal organizations have been able to multiply due to causes such as the failure of authorities to allow them to operate and the profits that illicit markets generate.
One of the organizations that grew thanks to the omission of the authorities is “La Barredora”, which had as its leader Commander “H”, Hernán Bermúdez, who was also Secretary of Security of Tabasco.
“La Barredora was a very small gang that, although it already existed, grew under the protection of the authorities in Tabasco, specifically, Hernán Bermúdez, and this umbrella of institutional protection served to strengthen this organization,” explains Sánchez.
(Photo: Cuartoscuro.)
Multiplication unleashes violence
The appearance and operation of more criminal organizations is usually strictly related to the increase in violence in territories.
Sinaloa is an example of this, but also Michoacán. In 2006, around six criminal groups operated in that entity, including Los Caballeros Templarios, La Familia Michoacana and Los Valencia. However, 20 years later, 24 groups are identified with a presence in 45 of the 113 municipalities, according to an analysis by AC Consultores.
“The more organizations, the greater the probability that they will join together in the territories, which translates into insecurity for different regions of the country, we are seeing it in Sinaloa,” explains Víctor Manuel Valdés.
As there are more “players” in the illicit market, they must look for ways to generate their profits, which is why they expand their activities, so the population suffers the consequences.
“The smaller the organizations, the more extractive they become with the population. Many of these small organizations do not have access to international drug trafficking or do not necessarily control the milking of huachicol products or cannot carry out fiscal huachicol in ports or at borders, therefore, they are concentrating on extortion, kidnapping, drug dealing, etc.,” adds the UAC expert.
The division of criminal activities generates more competitors, which obviously impacts the dispute over territorial controls.”
Alejandro Martínez, security expert at La Salle.
