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There is a great economic polarization between the rich and the poor which has greatly contributed to the high crime rates in some parts of the country. Mexican drug cartels deliver more than half of the methamphetamine supply into the United States. The persistence of corruption at certain levels of the administration and the police has prevented effective crime control efforts. Both police and military corruption remain large problems in Mexico, and are mostly fueled by the lucrative drug trade and migrant smuggling. Between January and June 2006, drug wars between cartels have claimed 1,003 victims. The problem is especially dangerous in the coastal city of Acapulco, Guerrero, a key link to the United States and México City. Mexico City continues to experience major crime problems, particularly with street crime and kidnappings, and also a new type of kidnapping called "Express kidnapping" usually in which the victim is carjacked and beaten in order to get him or her to the back seat of the vehicle driven. It is estimated that there are between 2000-3000 crimes committed on the street every day. Approximately 600 are reported (2000 average). Most of these are muggings, although the breakdown of the figures runs the gamut of criminal activity. Curiously for such a violent atmosphere, murders are not a significant part of the problem. These average around 2.5 per day which, given the size of the population is relatively few. To put it in context, Washington, D.C. has a murder rate per capita around 5 times higher. |
Mexico Information: Inside
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