Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002
Source: Japan Today (Japan)
Copyright: 2002, Japan Today
Contact:  http://www.japantoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2264

WOMEN TAKE OVER MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS

MEXICO CITY -- Women are now in charge of two of Mexico's biggest drug 
cartels, a high-ranking police commander was quoted Wednesday as saying.

In an interview published in La Jornada daily, the head of the attorney 
general's organized crime unit (UEDO), Joe Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, said 
control of the Tijuana and Colima cartels, run by the Arellano Felix and 
Amezcua Contreras families, respectively, has been turned over to the 
sisters of the former leaders who have either been imprisoned or killed.

The notoriously violent Tijuana cartel is one of main groups responsible 
for smuggling cocaine into the United States, while the Colima cartel is 
one of the main suppliers of amphetamines to Mexico's northern neighbor.

The Arellano Felix organization had been led by brothers Ramon and Benjamin 
until Ramon was shot to death by police in February and his brother was 
arrested a month later. Their sister Enedina has since taken over.

The sisters of Colima cartel leaders Luis Ignacio, Jesus and Adan Amezcua 
Contreras have taken over for their brothers, who are in prison, 
Vasconcelos explained.

The presence of women in drug cartels was brought to light when Delia 
Buendia, also known as "Ma Barker," was arrested on Aug. 20. She was 
considered the head of the Neza cartel, the most important drug-trafficking 
organization in the central state of Mexico, at the time of her arrest.

In recent years, Vasconcelos noted, the profile of the typical Mexican drug 
smuggler has undergone considerable changes.

"We find them living in middle-class neighborhoods, trying to blend into 
the crowd. Now they are more sophisticated. Globalization and competition 
have increased, and that requires more preparation in all areas and more 
sophistication," he said. (EFE News Service)
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