ACABACAT
(All cops are thieves)
There's nothing civil about this war.
My posts only represent my personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of any employer, past or present. Obvious spelling errors are likely the result of an iPhone keyboard.
In some circles it’s well known that cartels have offered former SOF and even some big city SWAT guys some good money to come down and train them.
I’d bet that more than one guy has taken them up on that offer.
I pretty much know the answer before asking, but everyone so far has no, or at best very limited, trust in the police. There is a state that supposedly has a better police force, and a more rural area that has good local cops. Obviously the exception vs the rule.
One guy I talked to had the opinion that the change from the Policia Federal to the Guardia Nacional has produced poor results. He told me the standards have been lowered.
I spend as much time in the “dangerous” and older areas of various classes as I do the tourist places. It’s an interesting experience, but my insight is still limited. There are guys on the board that have never been to Mexico in the way I have that know more than I. That know more than people who live here.
Did see multiple agencies that had a car surrounded. They were pulling it apart, looking for something.
Mexico is an interesting place.
I have spent a ton of time in Mexico for professional reasons, mostly in Mexico City, Chihuahua, and Guadalajara. Just like the USA, there are good areas and bad areas and good people and bad people. I have never had any issues, but I am never comfortable there, even in upscale areas. The last time I was in Guadalajara we had some issues getting to our destination; we later learned that several human heads were found displayed on the road we usually took to the facility at which we worked.
And if anyone in the USA thinks LE is mean or violates civil rights at traffic stops, a Policia Federal stop will be an eyeopener. We got stopped at a roadblock in front of a Ford assembly plant for a check along with every other vehicle and those guys were not messing around. There was at least one Browning M2 mounted on a medium-duty truck trained on us at all times and they took their time making sure we were not whom they wanted and had nothing in the vehicle that was of interest. We were repeatedly searched, repeatedly asked questions, and our passports were checked more than once. We were definitely guilty until proven not to be.
Somewhat related: the assassination attempt on the MX City Police Chief within the boundary of Mexico City by the CJNG in particular was a big sign that nowhere is off limits and that things are different. Previously, the cartels and government had somewhat of a gentleman's agreement that higher level wet works do not occur within Mexico City proper (for everyone's benefit). Think of it as the little Switzerland of Mexico, or The Continental in the John Wick series.
Like many things, CJNG changed that.
"Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll."- Last words of Todd Beamer
I've traveled some in Sinaloa and Baja. This was a number of years ago and I think it's changed a lot, not for the better. I don't recall having any issues in Baja but Sinaloa was uncomfortable. I don't like seeing armed police (M4's) at major road intersections and armed escorts (hired) for tourists when they travel inland. I think that was about 10 years ago and I've only visited the border towns since then.
In the P-F basket of deplorables.
With all respect, the facts of the situation indeed indicate that there is cause for blame. The policy changes made by the current administration has caused the southern border to transition from a relatively secure state to relatively porous state. The border cartel's revenue has increased exponentially as the increase of human trafficking and contraband smuggling has increased exponentially. As the cartel's revenue increases so does their power and influence. So, yes, the changes made by the current administration regarding border security has significantly increased the power and wealth of the cartels.