Mexico's Drug Trafficking Violence: Scope, Consequences and Response

The violence generated by Mexico's drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in recent years has been unprecedented. Although violence has been an inherent feature of the trade in illicit drugs, the character of the drug trafficking-related violence in Mexico has been increasingly brutal. Several politicians and journalists have been murdered and mass killings of young people and migrants using torture and car bombs have led some analysts to question whether the violence has been transformed into something new, requiring a different set of policy responses. This book provides background on drug trafficking in Mexico, identifies the major drug trafficking organizations, and analyzes prospects for curbing violence in the future.