Mexico's drug war violence down in tourism-dependent Baja California

Have you noticed Mexico's drug war has not been getting as much ink or TV press lately? The Somalia piracy issue taking center stage might be one explanation.

Another could be that drug-related violence in Mexico, while still substantial, dropped off considerably during the first quarter -- and this is especially true in the tourism-dependent state of Baja California, home to such party and outdoors destinations as Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada.

According to a story in today's Latin American Herald Tribune, 2,644 fatalities were attributed to organized crime in Mexico during the first three months of 2009. But this was 26% below the level reported during the previous three months.

Baja California experienced a 79% decline in the number of slayings, or a drop from 515 in the last quarter of 2008 to 108 in the first quarter of this year. Such news must come as a huge relief for cities craving the return of surfers, fishermen, golfers and general tourists.  

Mexican authorities attribute the decline in violence -- which has not been directed at tourists -- to successes such as the arrests of cartel chiefs and disruptions of cartels' operational capabilities. Here's  hoping for continued successes along the same lines.

(To read the Los Angeles Times' coverage on Mexico's drug war, click here.)

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Taylor Knox rides a 50-foot wave in 1998 off Todos Santos Island, a well-known surfing spot beyond Ensenada, Mexico. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Matt]

I've still been talking about it because I don't think it's over. Demand for the illegal products the cartels' are selling has not changed and therefore wile there may be a relatively quiet period right now (if you consider 2,644 people killed in three months for no good reason an improvement), the violence will continue because the cause of the problem has not been addressed.
The one and only long term solution is to legalize, tax, and regulate the plant these groups make the majority of their profits from, Marijuana.

www.overgrowthemafia.org

[Susan Feldman-Bailey]

Judgin by that picture, I think it is much dangerous and likely to get killed while practicing that sport, than being killed by bullets.

[MLK]

Just goes to show what is going on in Mexico. Still some problems, but trending in a big way for the better. what a great wave.. This was the wave where Taylor Knox won the Big Wave Challenge..

[Tico Times]

Unless some major steps are taken, Mexico will loose the drug war. Already it is shifting to Central America, where Costa Rica is getting to be the prime target, drug seizers have jumped up 1000%. http://ticotimes.com/costa-rica/hub-of-drug-traffickers