Mexico’s war on drugs heats up with Joaquin Guzman’s capture

Mexico’s war on drugs heats up with Joaquin Guzman’s capture
Mexico’s war on drugs heats up with Joaquin Guzman’s capture

Mexico’s war on drugs heats up with Joaquin Guzman’s capture

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.
North America’s most wanted drug kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was captured, without incident, in Mazatlán, Mexico over the weekend. Guzman was named “Public Enemy Number One” by the Chicago Crime Commission. The U.S. wants Guzman extradited here for trial. The drug war has also drawn more attention to Mexican vigilantes, once heralded as heroes by citizens, now increasingly feared as much as the drug cartels. Plus, the Mexican government reports that kidnappings in Mexico are up more than 33 percent. These numbers reflect only kidnappings accompanied with ransom demands. The actual figures could be immeasurably higher. Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas program at the Center for International Policy is based in Mexico. She’ll explain what she thinks is behind the social and safety upheaval across our southern border. (Photo: AP/Marco Ugarte)