I don´t see how it´s any different in major cities where up until recently the cops were investigating themselves. But to the extent that it goes on south of the border, no way.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/world/americas/26laredo.html?ref=world If Mexico wanted to reduce this on their end, they could prohibit cash deposits of US dollars into Mexican banks, as well as purchases in US dollars of real estate, etc. in Mexico.
AFAIK, the average Mexican family receives remittances from relatives in the USA via money orders, not cash, and is not using that pittance to buy homes & businesses. Requiring deposits or large purchases to be non-cash does not restrict freedom. It simply creates a record of the transfer. Cash transfers >$10K within the USA require documents, why shouldn't Mexico do the same?
If the USA had a policy of imprisoning black people, would you advocate Mexico do the same. Apologies if this sounds harsh, but that's a bleeping stupid argument. Why do we need to force people to have records of transfers. You're familiar with the Garden State Parkway. They have cash lanes (as well as EZ-Pass). You pay with cash, and you continue on. If you want a record of the transfer, you can get one. If I want a record of a cash transaction I make, I'll get one. If the other party won't give me one, then I'll take that into consideration in my decision making process. I don't know how the "average Mexican family" (as if that has to be the standard) gets their money, but that's not my concern.
Of course there is police corruption in the US, even in small towns. But the systematic corruption we see in police departments in most of Latin America is much more prevalent and widespread, there is really no comparison. There are a number of reasons. The police officers are trained more poorly, they are payed much less, but most significantly there is a culture of corruption which means it is condoned and even expected to a much greater extent than it is in the US, and not nearly as likely to be investigated and punished.
FYP, to make the comparison sensible. Taxes. Money laundering. Of course not. Your concern is whining here about the inequities of all drug laws. We get it. Are there any other windmills on your horizon?
Alright, I'll take that comparison too. Just because the USA has a friggin' stupidly insane policy that no one in their right mind can defend doesn't mean Mexico should, even though they do. Why should the USA care about people paying taxes or "money laundering" in Mexico? How does that affect us in any way?
Most countries imprison drug dealers & defend that policy. Much to your chagrin, both Mexico & the USA are among that number. Take a chill pill. They are legal. Or, you can get a prescription for some. I didn't say that the US has to care about it. Mexico has as much a right to track money within its own country & make people pay taxes on their income, whatever the source. Still, the USA does have some say about the money it prints. If, for example, it declined to repatriate USDollars in cash, Mexico might be encouraged to ban their use within it.
I hate to interject myself into this battle, but in fact people buy homes and businesses in mexico and central america largely from remittances from relatives.
Most of those remittances are wired because anyone mailing USDollars shouldn't expect to see that letter ever arrive at their relatives house.
Carlos Beltrán Leyva, brother of recently killed Arturo Beltrán Leyva, arrested in Mexico City: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126248870125713783.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world Oddly, the article notes that Carlos doesn't appear to have anything to do with the cartel or drug trafficking.
Neither did this guy, but that did not help him: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/05/mexico.us.killing.teacher/index.html
Sure, but he was kidnapped and slain by the cartels. Do you think that the Mexican gov't is essentially threatening to play by the cartels' rules by targeting those related to the trafficers that aren't even involved? I guess can see that being potentially effective (if morally reprehensible).
It just keeps getting more bizarre: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/08/world/AP-LT-Drug-War-Mexico.html
Another one bites the dust... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_drug_war_mexico
Weakening the cartels enough that those that remain spend their energy fighting amongst themselves internally for power rather than coordinating assassinations of police, military and politicians. I know... long term, it doesn't change much. Only a change in US drug laws will do that. But I'm sure those trying to raise families on the border would appreciate the break.
In Mexico, 13 killed in Acapulco area, 11 others elsewhere in Guerrero http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-mexico-acapulco14-2010mar14,0,5589087.story
The U.S. State Dept. has issued a travel warning to Americans living in or possibly traveling to Mexico. Of particular concern is the safety of spring break vacationers: Mexico drug violence worries Spring Break revelers