Could Mexico’s militarized drug war be coming to a halt?

If leftist President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador has anything to do with it, Mexico’s drug war could certainly be stopped in its tracks.

Drug-fueled crimes have resulted in kidnappings, death and safety hazards in Mexico, where, according to official statistics, as many as 37,000 people have been declared missing since the year 2007. However, this figure could be a lot bigger. Frightened families fear retribution as a repercussion of reporting incidents relating to drugs such as cannabis in Mexico and harder drugs, like cocaine.

Broken police and judicial system struggling to tackle issues regarding drugs like cannabis in Mexico

The violent drug cartels in Mexico, many of which are believed to be more powerful than the police force, have been battling with the military for quite some time now.

While this move might have been a desperate necessity, it has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Mexican citizens. Much of the country’s produce is illegally trafficked to customers in the northernmost segment of the United States.

Based on the details of a 2017 report published by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, drug cartels in Mexico are triggering a rise in use, misuse and overdose incidents caused by illicit substances like heroin and fentanyl.

With the police and judicial systems corrupted and broken, murder disappearances are almost never solved, meaning that dangerous murderers are left to commit drug-related crimes on the streets.

On a more positive note, the country’s soon-to-be president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has made a vow to Mexican citizens that he will fight to restore peace and national reconciliation in a country that has endured a vicious drug war for over a decade.

AMLO wants to “address the root cause of crime and violence”

Also known as AMLO, his initials, López Obrador was elected to be the next President of Mexico on July 1 of this year. He achieved the largest margin of victory in the history of the country’s modern democracy.

“The failed crime and violence strategy will change,” he stated to members of the audience at his election night. “We will address the root causes of crime and violence.”

So, what does AMLO have planned to end Mexico’s drug war?

Well, he and his team of advisers have suggested sending soldiers specializing in drug war combat back to their barracks, since their services will no longer be utilized for the purpose of restoring drug-related safety in Mexico.

AMLO is confident that by developing encouraging social programs, nonviolent drug offenders can be pardoned and encouraged to move in a more positive direction. The to-be President of Mexico does not think violence is the answer.