US arrests 300 La Familia members
As part of the Justice Department's Project Coronado, 300 members of La Familia's drug distribution chain were arrested this week inside the US. BBC profiles the cartel, NBC looks at the smuggling along the border and CNN asks whether the arrests are a sign of progress in Mexico's war against the cartels.
Waves of arrests like these do disrupt the operations of the cartels and deserve praise. They are temporary successes that create momentum that can lead to more significant successes. Strategically, however, if the arrests are not followed up with further actions, the arrested cartel members are simply replaced. Arresting hundreds of people every few months feels like progress, but isn't a sustainable strategy by itself.
Waves of arrests like these do disrupt the operations of the cartels and deserve praise. They are temporary successes that create momentum that can lead to more significant successes. Strategically, however, if the arrests are not followed up with further actions, the arrested cartel members are simply replaced. Arresting hundreds of people every few months feels like progress, but isn't a sustainable strategy by itself.
Labels: illicit-trafficking, Mexico, security, US-foreign-policy |
