Can the Mexican Military Beat the Cartels?

Obviously, the answer depends on who you ask. From a technical and practical standpoint, the answer seems to be a pretty basic no. While the military has had some success with capturing and killing hundreds of cartel foot soldiers and thugs, the military’s actions have been acting more as a reactionary force rather than a search and destroy force. Many times, the military will wait out gun battles between rival cartels, then go in and seize weapons, drugs, vehicles, and arrest any stragglers or wounded. Of course Mexico’s laws on using the military against civilians are not as stringent or well defined as ours are, although, they have adapted and wormed through technical loopholes as well as racked up quite a few human right abuses and violations along the way.
For starters, Mexico’s military is a national defense force implemented as a defense against attackers and not for attacking or invading. As such, training for offensive operations on a large scale are minimal and not well suited for symmetrical warfare or a force with no centralized command and control structure. Since the cartels have no centralized command, local cell (or plaza), leaders are able to move around independently with little coordination from higher leadership or logistical support. This makes it difficult for the military, who must maintain unit integrity for their effectiveness. In this respect, the military is at a disadvantage.

Soldier patrolling in San Fernando, Tamaulipas

In general, the military’s overall counter drug mission is not well defined to the point that the common foot soldier on the ground is aware of the mission objective. The foot soldier only follows orders to shoot anyone who fires at them first or at known drug cartel members. Tactical and strategic maneuvering is usually only employed at battalion level and above so company and platoon level units, which usually engage in cartel gun battles, do so only with head on engagements. Although, the military foot soldier is trained enough in individual fire and maneuver techniques, it is enough for them to survive and accomplish their short term missions. The military foot soldier is also better trained in marksmanship and weapon maintenance than most street level cartel members which gives the military soldier a greater advantage.

Although the military has adapted to dealing with the cartels to a certain extent, as an organized governmental agency, it is not well suited for large scale operations against a decentralized organization such as the cartels. One big advantage that the cartels have over the military that is difficult, if not impossible to overcome, is that the cartel members don’t operate by any rule of law or morality. Cartel members can easily blend into the local population and employ hundreds of paid local citizens to act as scouts and lookouts to report any military activity way before the military even arrives. In many cases, that advantage gives the cartels enough time to set up ambushes, hide, or disappear.

Mexican Marines capture the Gulf Cartel finance officer. Note the masks and the US made M-203. 

It also goes without saying that many times, it not beyond reason for military soldiers to succumb to bribery and threats against them or their families. That is one reason most soldiers wear masks, to conceal their identities. In one well documented case, a Marine killed in the operation that took down the leader of the Beltran Leyva Cartel who was hailed as a hero, had his entire family killed just days after his funeral after the new caster at the funeral announced the Marine’s name on the air. Cartel members soon found his surviving family and gunned down his mother, aunt, brother, sister, and wounded another sister in revenge. That incident left many Mexican soldiers and Marines shaken and questioning their roles against the cartels. There have also been several cases of high ranking officers found to be on cartel payrolls which, seriously degrades morale.

Because of the problem of corruption, soldiers are often rotated out of their area of operation every three to six months to avoid possible corruption and getting too familiar with the locals who may be cartel recruiters. This constant rotation prevents units as a whole to familiarize themselves with the terrain, culture, and atmosphere. While the military’s concern on corruption is legitimate, the constant change degrades a unit’s ability to learn what it’s up against.

Mexican soldier seized 3.5 metric tons of marijuana staged to cross into the US near Diaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas.

After some of the battles against cartel members, soldiers have found cartel issued ammunition that is over 10 years old, corroded, and potentially unreliable. Much of the ammunition the street level cartel member receives is either left over from the El Salvador civil war or of cheap quality which eventually ruins the weapons. But, the higher level cartel members do have military grade weapons and equipment. In one incident in Tamaulipas, a street level minion, was seriously injured by his own weapon during a fire fight with the military. The weapon barrel shattered due to repeated use of dirty ammunition and lack of cleaning. It was found to be a cheap AK- 47 knock off which are a dime a dozen in around the world. The gunman’s boss was also injured by military gunfire. His weapon however, was an authentic Russian made AN-94 (Abakan) assault rifle in excellent condition.

The fact that this weapon was found in the hands of the cartel raised concerns for the military because this model of weapon is a Russian military issue weapon and has not been produced since 2006 and then, very few were ever produced. This particular weapon uses a 5.45 x 39mm cartridge which is rather difficult to get in Mexico. Still, this incident just goes to show what the Mexican military may be up against.

Mexican authorities arrested 42 year old Ramiro Pozos Gonzalez, founder of the La Resistencia cartel. During the raid, authorities found Gonzales's gold plated AK-47, complete with golden magazines and golden ammunition.

Pay for Mexican soldiers is pathetic compared to comparable militaries. Even by Mexican standards, a soldier’s pay is just above the poverty line but the fact that the military provides some meals, uniforms, housing and other essentials compensates for the low pay, about  $ 440.00 per month (US).

While the honor and dedication of the Mexican military is admirable and proud, I don’t believe the military will be or given the authority to do what is needed to deal with the cartels as a whole without violating Mexican laws and civil liberties. It would require a major training shift from defense force to the asymmetrical guerrilla style warfare that Mexicans would accept but could become a dangerous step in the direction of military rule.

Mexican soldiers captured a suspect that evaded Texas authorities by jumping in the Rio Grande River.

Personal note. I have met and worked with soldiers from Germany, France, Israel, Denmark, Switzerland and even a few Russians and I can respect any soldier who risks their life for his/her country. I have never spoken to or met a Mexican soldier (that I am aware of) but, I study their actions and monitor the victories as part of my job. I have gained a new respect for what they do after four years of watching them.

Note: I'm not sure why this post's text and spacing is not as I set. Regardless of my attempts to correct it, it will not display correctly. My apologies.