In the fight against organized crime, more intelligence than force was used: AMLO

Mexico City. During the current six-year term, in the fight against organized crime, more intelligence was used than force and there was “more respect for life,” said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador this Sunday when delivering his sixth and final Government Report in the capital’s main square.

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“In the fight against organized crime, intelligence is used more than force, and the fatality rate has been reduced,” he emphasized.

López Obrador compared the fatality rate during his administration with that of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012), highlighting that life was more respected in confrontations between federal forces and members of the criminal community.

“What is this lethality rate? To illustrate this important fact, it is worth mentioning that in 2011, during Felipe Calderón’s term, there were 1,076 clashes between the Armed Forces and criminal groups. In these, 1,412 people lost their lives. 1,027 were wounded and arrested. That is, there were 285 more dead than wounded and arrested. In contrast, last year the clashes were reduced to 486 with a total of 271 dead and 442 wounded and arrested. That is, there was less use of force and more respect for life,” he said.

Customs control

López Obrador also highlighted that in May 2022, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of the Navy assumed control of 50 customs offices in the country, which has meant greater effectiveness in operations to combat smuggling and drug trafficking, and there has been an increase in revenue of 4% in real terms.

“Both border and naval customs are being modernized. They already have better facilities, new bridges, equipment and control and surveillance cameras,” he said.

At the end of this year, he said, the National Customs Agency, an administrative and military complex located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, will be inaugurated.

“With dredgers built, dredgers built in the Navy shipyards and others acquired and rented, a broad dredging program of rivers, streams and ports was carried out to improve maritime transport and prevent flooding. With the support of municipal governments and the state government, the Navy has taken charge of keeping the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean Sea clean, free of sargassum throughout Quintana Roo,” he concluded.