# The Impunity of the Six-Year Term
In a controversial move, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has rebuffed the involvement of the DEA in the fight against organized crime in Mexico. His administration has shown little interest in taking responsibility or apprehending the major criminal masterminds. Unlike the critics he labeled as “opponents”—whether they be politicians, journalists, professionals, thinkers, or activists—whom AMLO often publicly accused and pursued with the full force of the Mexican state, he has treated organized crime figures with noticeable respect. For the entirety of his term, AMLO has refrained from treating these criminals as adversaries.
Mexico has witnessed record levels of violence, with homicides projected to reach 200,000 by the end of AMLO’s presidency. The government has touted the captures of up to 30 high-profile targets linked to violence, but most of these were mid-level operatives, often exaggerated in importance for promotional purposes. The standout arrests during AMLO’s tenure include Ovidio Guzmán López, alias “El Ratón,” and Rafael Caro Quintero, but leaders like Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas (“El Nini”) and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Tony Montana”) are considered less significant in the criminal hierarchy.
Lower-level targets, such as the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, José Antonio Yépez Ortiz (“El Marro”), have also been apprehended. However, in Baja California, cooperation between local and federal authorities has been strained following the severing of work between the DEA and the Mexican government. This rupture has led to major criminals eluding capture, with local authorities admitting to a reduced effectiveness in combating organized crime.
The captures in Baja California also include minor figures like David López Jiménez (“El Cabo 20”) and Felipe Eduardo Barajas Lozano (“El Omega”). Yet, there has been a conspicuous absence of higher-tier arrests, reflecting the federal government’s reluctance or incapability in assembling strong cases against top criminal leaders.
AMLO’s administration has restricted the DEA’s operational scope in Mexican territory under the banner of nationalism, while failing to take adequate responsibility for arrests and prosecutions. Even when apprehensions occur, Mexico opts to extradite these criminals swiftly to the United States, acknowledging its judicial shortcomings. An unusual case arose when a relative of a cartel leader turned in Ismael “Mayo” Zambada to the authorities, prompting the government to prosecute the informant for treason.
Despite his fierce rhetorical battles with political opponents, AMLO’s approach toward major criminal figures has often been marked by deference. His presidency has seen a glaring inconsistency in addressing the root causes of mass violence and organized crime, leaving powerful criminal organizations largely unchallenged, navigating with a sense of impunity.
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### Additional Coverage
**Ongoing Controversies in Mexico’s Fight Against Organized Crime**
The challenges faced by Mexico’s efforts against organized crime continue to dominate headlines. Recently, security forces found an extensive arms cache linked to Los Rusos in Southern Mexicali, exposing the depth of cartel influence in the region. Meanwhile, in legislative developments, there has been significant pushback against the perceived inadequacies in Mexico’s judicial system, with calls for systemic reforms to tackle corruption more effectively.
On a related front, displaced families due to escalating violence have highlighted the severe human impact of organized crime, prompting civil society groups to demand more robust government action. Furthermore, local authorities have struggled to maintain budgetary allocations critical for efficient policing and security operations, further complicating the fight against organized crime.
These issues underscore the complex landscape of security and justice in Mexico, as the nation grapples with deeply entrenched criminal networks and institutional challenges.
Stay tuned to TJGringo.com for ongoing coverage and insights on this critical issue affecting Mexico and its citizens.