Fighting narcotraffic in Latin America: Mexico and El Salvador—a comparative approach
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Authors
Melara, Christian N.
Subjects
El Salvador
Mexico
organized crime
gangs
drug trafficking
public security institutions
policy
criminality.
Mexico
organized crime
gangs
drug trafficking
public security institutions
policy
criminality.
Advisors
Gingeras, Ryan
Date of Issue
2015-03
Date
March 2015
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Mexico and El Salvador have been fighting organized crime for decades. While Mexico has fought drug cartels with the support of the U.S. government, El Salvador has struggled to lower high crime rates mostly with its own resources. Mexico, which has a different government structure from El Salvador’s, has not been able to control drug trafficking despite the use of armed forces. Although Mexico’s approach to fighting drug cartels differs from El Salvador’s approach, neither country has been able to control organized crime in its own territory. While both countries have used armed forces, the outcomes vary. Mexico achieved partial success by incarcerating drug cartel leaders and seizing drugs; however, drug trafficking continued. El Salvador’s use of armed forces has been limited, and the strategy did not lower high crime rates. Human rights issues have aroused negative attention to both countries. The magnitude of the criminal activity in both countries requires a more comprehensive approach, rather than the use of armed forces to counter criminal organized crime.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs
National Security Affairs
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
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Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.