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Mexico’s Struggle Against Organized Crime: Corruption and Impunity Remain Pervasive

A Country Plagued by Organized Crime

Mexico has been struggling to combat corruption and impunity for years, despite efforts to improve law enforcement and combat criminal activity. The nation remains vulnerable to illegal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and money laundering.

Corruption and Impunity Remain Pervasive

According to a recent report, Mexico’s national guard has shifted its focus from combating organized crime to containing migration flows, neglecting efforts to prevent exploitation of migratory patterns and border porosity by criminal elements. The country’s financial institutions have also been exploited for money laundering purposes, with laundered funds passing through Mexican banks.

• Corruption is a significant obstacle in Mexico’s fight against organized crime.
• The government has been criticized for its reluctance to propose new commissioners in various institutions, impairing their capacity to fulfill their duties and implement up-to-date legal frameworks addressing foreign investments and cryptocurrencies.

Lack of Institutional Capacity and Corruption within Law Enforcement

The report highlights the lack of institutional capacity and corruption within law enforcement agencies as major factors contributing to the country’s struggle against organized crime. Investigations and prosecutions of money laundering cases are rare, resulting in low conviction rates. The conflict between Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the Attorney General has also hindered the development of a comprehensive anti-money laundering framework.

Inadequate Victim and Witness Support Mechanisms

Mexico’s victim and witness support mechanisms are also lacking, with little attention paid to supporting victims of human rights violations, human trafficking, and forced disappearances. The government has failed to allocate sufficient funds to victim assistance, leaving authorities to inadequately employ a victim-centered approach.

Ineffective Policies for Preventing Criminal Activity

The report concludes that Mexico’s current policies for preventing criminal activity are ineffective due to limited law enforcement capacity and a lack of comprehensive strategies. Despite claiming crime prevention as a priority, the government’s impact on record-high levels of violence remains uncertain.

Sources

This article was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

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