Patterns of a narco state

* Above, graphic by the Wall Street Journal.

In Colima, a small state nudged into the southwest corner of Mexico's Pacific coast, a politician "endorsed" by the Zetas is poised to be elected governor on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal reports on the rising influence of Mexico's narco cartels in regional political campaigns and governments, using the candidacy of Mario Anguiano, a PRI man, as its primary example. More:

According to a September 2007 intelligence assessment by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the governors of the states of Veracruz and Michoacán had agreements with the Gulf Cartel allowing free rein to that large drug-trafficking gang. In return, said the report, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, the cartel promised to reduce violence in Veracruz state and, in Michoacán, financed a gubernatorial race and many municipal campaigns across the state.

Read the whole article here.

Not too recently, a bunch of mayors and other officials were swept up in Michoacán. Interesting, then, that the director of the FBI's operations in Mexico just signed a cooperation accord with the government of Tamaulipas. The NarcoGuerra Times aptly notes: "Considering the Zeta/Gulf organization's proven ability to penetrate federal and local law enforcement in Tamaulipas there might be some problems with this down the road."

Comments

[Richard]

Any idea as to how purchased loyalties break down by party? Who's deepest in bed with whom? My guess is that it runs across the board of the three major parties. Would that be the case, it puts an interesting spin on the voting abstention campaigns.

[Daniel Hernandez]

There are some theories about that out there, but you'd have to consult more specified sources. (And watch your back.)

D.

[claroquesiputa]

makes me want to pick up 2666 again.