Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Violence in Mexico by Rosen Jonathan D.;Zepeda Roberto; & Roberto Zepeda

Author:Rosen, Jonathan D.;Zepeda, Roberto; & Roberto Zepeda
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781498535618
Publisher: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic
Published: 2016-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

MICHOACÁN AND SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS

In addition to Guerrero, Michoacán could be classified as a failed state as many of the zones within the region are controlled by drug traffickers and the state is virtually absent, which has led some residents to take the law into their own hands. A recent phenomenon in Mexico as a result of the increasing insecurity in some states is the emergence of self-defense groups (autodefensas) in some regions where local communities have been affected by DTOs and organized crime. For instance, self-defense groups exist in Michoacán—as well as Guerrero. Michoacán has seen the rise of organized civilian armed groups to protect the people as a result of the lack of confidence in law enforcement. The self-defense groups have organized in order to protect themselves from the Knights Templar cartel, which controls drug trafficking but also extorts and kidnaps the local population. It is also important to highlight the fact that Michoacán is a strategic place, since the Lazaro Cardenas port is one of the main points of drug entry to Mexico. Dudley Athaus and Steven Dudley argue that these predatory criminal groups have altered the security dynamics as well as the political balance of power.24

The self-defense forces patrol their communities and set up check points.25 The sheer number of self-defense units in Michoacán were quite small when these groups first emerged in 2013 and were located in several small towns in the Tierra Caliente region. However, the number of self-defense forces has increased over time throughout Mexico, primarily as violence and organized crime have continued, causing these forces to take the law into their own hand. In addition, the self-defense forces have evolved over time and the organizational structures have become more complex. Kimberly Heinle, Cory Molzahn, and David A. Shirk argue that in 2014 “autodefensas groups were commanded by what could be equated to lieutenants, each of whom oversees ten groups or cells comprising ‘soldiers,’ who carry out the security functions for the group. Additionally, there was a group of autodefensas, known as H3 that was placed in charge of advancing on towns and occupying municipal police buildings.”26 As the number of self-defense forces has increased, their roles have also expanded. The membership of the self-defense forces has become diverse as the groups have increased in size. Members include a wide array of individuals from local businesspeople to concerned residents and even former defectors of the Knights Templar cartel.27 The relationships between the self-defense forces and other criminal organizations have been called into question, particularly since some of these communities have obtained AK-47s and AR-15s. Some of these self-defense forces have been accused of receiving these weapons from the Knights Templar’s rival cartel, the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which is a cartel located in the state of Jalisco.28 In addition, Michoacán has a large population of migrants who live in the U.S. and have brought back arms upon returning to Michoacán, particularly during the holidays in December.29 In turn, the self-defense forces have stepped up their activities.

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