Security & Strategic Review -May 2007

Mexico's two drug wars - the one being waged by the government against the drug gangs and the one between rival drug gangs - increased markedly in intensity in May. Law enforcement personnel accounted for more than one out of every 10 fatalities. However, this is not so much a sign of a drug-gang backlash against President Felipe Calderón's campaign as an effort by the drug gangs to deprive their rivals of the cover they have been enjoying from within the law enforcement agencies.