The apprehension of the most wanted criminal in Mexico represents a major achievement of the Mexican government. Being a fugitive since he escaped prison thirteen years ago, Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, AKA “El Chapo” Guzmán, will at last serve his sentence for organized crime, to which other felonies such as drug trafficking (as head of the Sinaloa Cartel) will add up. Its carefully crafted apprehension can turn out to be a clear message that security issues are a priority within the current administration’s agenda. Nevertheless, beyond identifying the media impact that the latter represents, it should be highlighted that important leaders of the underworld have been arrested in the past, which is why we should ask: can the strategy of “cutting heads” represent a substantial improvement for the national security policy?
Just like it occurred with Felipe Calderón’s administration and its exceptional apprehensions, the Navy was once again responsible for the arrest of “El Chapo”; however, coordination with the government of Enrique Peña Nieto is showing nuances that already reflect decisive changes compared to the previous government: for instance, a careful handling of the media and a deep organization amongst public federal agencies. The participation between the United States and Mexico has also been modified due to, as indicated by available information, the cooperation between these countries was mainly limited to interchanging intelligence briefings, and instead of having the American agencies to organize the capture, it was the Mexican institutions the ones responsible for planning, executing and apprehending the drug lord – always sticking to a proper judiciary framework. In addition to this, along with the capture of individuals such as the former teacher’s union leader Elba Esther Gordillo, the government seems to try to send the message that, unlike the previous administration, no one is “untouchable” anymore. Time will tell whether these words will match reality.
Although manners have changed, there is no sight of a real transformation on the tactics of the new government as to face organized crime. Despite the major work done by security institutions in apprehending “El Chapo”, the Peña administration seems to be perpetuating a strategy that has already proven to be ineffective. To an extent, the apprehension of an important number of crime leaders has resulted counterproductive for national security. The market gap generated by the prosecution of drug trafficking has led an increase of insecurity in certain parts of the country, given the plethora of more profitable crimes such as extortion, theft and kidnapping, all who affect the general population much more so than drug smuggling – a phenomenon that is relatively distant from ordinary lives. Because of the latter, an integral strategy to tackle organized crime should be focused on addressing the deep roots of criminality. In that sense, countering drug trafficking should be given with a judicial and economic focus, through actions that contemplate both the institutional reconstruction as well as the surveillance of operation and financing networks that enable the expansion of such organizations.
Quickly after the apprehension of Joaquín Guzmán, the international recognition followed and, in addition to it, the surprise of Mexican society after such a sudden event raised the spirits (and the usual suspicions); however, the aforementioned happening will be of little use it turns out to be an isolated occurrence that will not be translated into a renewed security environment in the country and it is accompanied by a deep reconstruction of institutions that will enable the rule of law and a continuity in the apprehension processes of other high-profile criminals. The next actions that the Peña Nieto government will undertake should be decisive to see whether such a major arrest is part of a strategy that takes into account the general scenario or it is only a fleeting glance of optimism.
CIDAC
Comments