Since his ascension to the highest office in the land in 2006, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has deployed more than 35,000 federal troops in security operations around the country. The extensive use of Mexican military in counternarcotics operations has met considerable criticism. Calderon has widely defended his strategy since the drug trafficking crisis has put Mexico on the global crime map.

Drug trafficking is a huge problem in Mexico because it is ‘the primary transshipment point for South American-produced cocaine bound for the United States, the world’s largest market for the drug.’

Mexico is also said to be ‘the largest producer of marijuana and methamphetamines consumed in the United States.’ In 2007, more than 17,000 tons of marijuana were produced in Mexico, according to the U.S. National Drug Intelligence Center. Most of these supplies were smuggled into the United States.

The military duties under the country’s counternarcotics strategy come in the following broad functions: ‘technical intelligence collection and maritime and aerial monitoring and interdiction,’ ‘traditional civilian law enforcement and judicial duties which include actions such as making arrests, prosecuting and convicting defendants and imposing punishment,’ and tasks that ‘overlap between Mexico’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies.’ The last function is known as a ‘gray’ category.

Under the ‘gray’ category, the tasks involve: drug-crop eradication and meth-lab seizures, immigration and customs inspections at points of entry and exit which means either stopping or inspecting suspect cargo, raids and arrests of high-value cartel targets, and general public safety and law enforcement because the drug trade in Mexico has debilitated the country with its attendant bloody violence.

The Mexican military’s efforts, at times successful and at times a failure, have garnered ‘increasing civil rights complaints from citizens.’ The people call for a review of the military’s use in counternarcotics operations due to reports of military abuses.

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Via STRATFOR