User:Kdhartt/Michoacán

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After the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) fell from power in 2000, the surge in criminal violence was unexpected. From homicides and kidnappings to organized crime, the violence that began to emerge while in a position of political change had posed a significant threat to the nation’s stability. Even though criminal groups and the state are on two ends of the spectrum, they are seen working together. Some criminal groups have an upper hand when it comes to the state and the sharing of information between the two happens as a mutually beneficial concept.

In Michoacán, the criminal groups are more equipped with weapons than the state institutions themselves, which means they simply overpower the government. With the heavy influence of criminal violence, even avocado producers had to step in and combat this violence. Michoacán is the second largest avocado producer in the entire world, and with that territory comes criminal groups demanding money from the avocado producers. In turn, avocado producers have come together to create CUSEPT, which has helped protect people from crime.

In Mexico, the Federal Criminal Code has its own section designed to target and address crimes within organized criminal groups. For something to be identified as an organized crime offense, the offender must be investigated then prosecuted and finally convicted.

War on drugs
When President Felipe Calderón was in office in 2006 he sent troops into Michoacán to regain power over the state and to fight the current cartels that had power. His efforts ended up creating more violence, and the number of homicides skyrocketed. The state of Michoacán has some of the highest murder rates throughout Mexico. In 2013, the criminal group, The Knights Templar, had essentially run the state. While they eventually lost the control they once had, excessive criminal violence persisted, and many civilians were in between feuds if they happened to be on enemy territory. The dispute is different criminal groups going to war on each other over drugs, money, and land but no authority is stepping in to end the disputes because these criminal groups are simply too powerful and are much more equipped than the State officials.

Drug Cartels
The rise of drug cartels in Michoacan as the state was going through a political change was pivotal. The cartels are able to pay state officials to do their dirty work for them in exchange for keeping their criminal group up and successful. Adding on to the fluidity of criminal groups and government officials working together, the hope for Mexico to strengthen its powers back into a non-corrupt state is not high. La Familia Michoacana, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Los Zetas, Beltrán-Leyva Organization, the Knights Templar Cartel and Cárteles Unidos are some groups that operate in Michoacán. These groups are a threat to the government's security because Michoacán is now the center for drug production in the world. The reason drug cartels seem to thrive in Michoacán is due to what is called the Tierra Caliente in the southern part of the State. This region is far from the bustling atmosphere and with roads that are pretty inaccessible, it makes for an ideal place to do criminal activities.

Crime during COVID-19
During the peak of the pandemic, criminal groups saw this time as an opportunity to be more involved within their communities. In Michoacán, La Familia Michoacana cartel decided to give out food to the local community. This was an effort to further embed themselves in a position to control power and to show civilians that they need criminal groups like La Familia Michoacana.