The Mexican Government’s "Tough on Cartels" Propaganda: A Closer Look
Introduction: The Contradiction Between Rhetoric and Reality
The Mexican government has recently launched a propaganda campaign in U.S. media outlets, touting its efforts to crack down on drug cartels. This campaign suggests that Mexico is taking a firm stance against these criminal organizations, with claims that cartels are living in fear of the government’s newfound resolve. However, behind the scenes, the reality tells a different story. Despite the rhetoric, Mexico continues to protect some of its most notorious cartel bosses, including Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, the leader of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). This contradiction between the government’s words and actions has been exposed by investigative reporting, revealing a web of corruption and complicity that undermines the very premise of Mexico’s "tough on cartels" narrative.
El Mencho and the Protective Umbrella of the Mexican Government
At the heart of this contradiction is the case of El Mencho, one of Mexico’s most elusive and dangerous cartel leaders. Despite being a high-value target for both Mexican and U.S. authorities, El Mencho has evaded capture with suspicious ease. This is not due to his own cunning alone but is reportedly facilitated by his connections within the Mexican government. As revealed by Breitbart Texas, El Mencho has a personal relationship with Mexico’s Secretary of Defense, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo. This relationship dates back to Trevilla Trejo’s time as a Mexican Army General in Michoacán, where he interacted with top cartel bosses and befriended El Mencho. This connection raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to combating organized crime, as it appears that high-ranking officials are more interested in maintaining ties with cartel leaders than in dismantling their operations.
The Sinaloa Cartel and the Turf Wars: A Game of Smoke and Mirrors
The Sinaloa Cartel, another major player in Mexico’s drug trade, has also benefited from the government’s selective enforcement. The cartel is currently embroiled in a brutal turf war between two factions: Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. Despite the U.S. government providing intelligence on the locations of these factions’ leaders, Mexican authorities have chosen not to act. This inaction is particularly striking given the Sinaloa Cartel’s involvement in the lucrative fentanyl trade, which has been a focal point of U.S. pressure on Mexico to take decisive action. Instead of targeting the cartel’s leadership, the Mexican government has allowed the turf war to continue, a strategy that effectively keeps the cartel weak but intact. This approach allows the government to maintain a degree of control over the cartel’s activities while appearing to address the issue.
The Government’s PR Strategy: Deceiving the Media and the Public
The Mexican government’s propaganda campaign has been successful in convincing some U.S. media outlets, including The New York Times, that it is genuinely cracking down on cartels. A recent NYT article claimed that the cartels are in fear following the Trump administration’s terrorist designation of these groups. The article cited unnamed cartel sources who alleged that they were taking steps to protect their families and had even shut down fentanyl labs. However, this narrative is part of a carefully crafted PR strategy aimed at avoiding U.S. tariffs and other punitive measures. The NYT failed to recognize that the closure of fentanyl labs in Sinaloa is not a result of government action but rather a consequence of the ongoing turf war between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. This oversight highlights how easily the government’s narrative can be accepted at face value, even by reputable news organizations.
The Failures of Mexico’s Security Operations: All Bark and No Bite
Despite the propaganda, Mexico’s security operations have been criticized for their ineffectiveness. The deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops to the northern border, announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has been widely criticized for its lack of impact. Historically, the National Guard has been accused of avoiding direct confrontations with cartel gunmen, adhering to a policy of "Hugs not Bullets" that prioritizes reconciliation over enforcement. This approach has allowed cartels to continue operating with relative impunity. Furthermore, the government has been accused of inflating the significance of its arrests and operations. For example, Public Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch has been known to exaggerate the rank of captured cartel members and to claim credit for seizing armored vehicles that were actually abandoned after cartel clashes. These tactics are designed to create the illusion of progress without addressing the root of the problem.
Conclusion: The Broader Implications of Mexico’s Complicity
The Mexican government’s complicity with drug cartels has far-reaching implications, both domestically and internationally. By protecting cartel leaders and engaging in a public relations campaign to mask its inaction, the government undermines the trust of its citizens and its international partners. The U.S. government, in particular, has expressed frustration with Mexico’s lack of decisive action, threatening tariffs and other measures to pressure the country into taking the cartel threat seriously. However, as long as high-ranking officials maintain ties with cartel bosses, meaningful progress is unlikely. The Mexican government must be held accountable for its actions, and the international community must be vigilant in scrutinizing its claims. Only then can real strides be made in the fight against organized crime.
