Drug baron death “won’t make any difference”

Photo of Beltran Leyva after he was killed. Image from the Mexican Navy, published in Reforma newspaper Dec. 18.

The Mexican government is claiming an important victory after killing one of the country's most wanted drug cartel leaders after a two hour shoot-out on Wednesday night. However the question remains, will getting rid of the "boss of bosses" get rid of the cartel? One of our Observers thinks certainly not.

Arturo Beltran Leyva, who called himself El jefe de jefes (the boss of bosses), is the most powerful kingpin to have been killed or arrested since Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched his "War on drugs" three years ago. He was shot dead, along with six of his cartel members, after a two hour battle with the Mexican Navy, which also cost the life of one of the officers involved. The navy targeted the gang in Leyva's exclusive residence in Cuernavaca, 85 kilometres south of Mexico City.

“There will be people waiting to step into the shoes of those who were killed”

Gabriel Infante is a blogger and journalist from Mexico City.

People are glad that Arturo Beltran Leyva's gone. Finally, after three years, they managed to get rid of an important target. But what they don't seem to realise, is that they won't dismantle the cartel just by killing the leaders. Drug cartels are very well structured and always ready for the death or arrest of the top positions. There will be people waiting to step into the shoes of those who were killed. This supposed victory will not make any difference at all.

Calderon's ‘war on drugs' has seen over 14,000 people killed in three years; around 8,000 of them in 2009. Thousands of civilians have been ambused by the army in their ruthless search for the culprits. There's daily street violence in the areas where they live in. Fighting in the streets like we're in Iraq is not fair on civilians. Calderon promised to reduce violence. Instead, it's increased.

There's a bigger danger at stake here too. This full throttle approach is creating narco-terrorists, like those that struck in Morelia last September [grenades were thrown into a crowd at an Independence Day celebration, killing eight and wounding over 100]. Yesterday Cuernavaca was on alert because a violent backlash was expected. How are we expected to enjoy next year's celebrations for the Mexican Independence bicentennial and Revolution centennial with this threat hanging over our heads?

Even a former party president, Manuel Espino, criticised Calderon's head-on strategy in an open letter to the president. But Calderon is so stubborn, he won't listen to anyone. He created this war for the media and for international recognition. He will refuse to change strategy just to save face."

A glimpse of the two hour shoot-out

This video was filmed from the navy's side during the battle. It was aired by Mexican television channel Televisa.