The new hideout of cockroaches? the expansion of the Mexican organized crime in the northern triangle of Central America

Abstract

One of the more latent effects caused by the strategy of confrontation open to organized crime, held in Mexico from the last six years, has been the transfer of the main criminal groups towards the Northern Triangle of Central America. From this scenario, this article's research aims to answer the following question: Why this territory has become the new headquarters for major Mexican cartels? For this purpose, are analyzed under a qualitative approach, the main factors that have facilitated the expansion of Mexican organized crime in that geographic area. Then, addresses and dynamic connections between Mexican cartels and other criminal organizations operating in the sub region as carriers and gangs. Finally, evaluates the viability of a strategic alliance between two actors with greater preponderance in the criminal scene of the area: Los Zetas and Mara Salvatrucha. The paper concludes that, by its geographical location, its porous borders, its weakness institutional and growing sophistication of local criminal groups - transportistas- and gangs, the Northern Triangle of Central America provides spacious opportunities for Mexican drug trafficking expansion

Keywords

• Central America
• Drug traffic
• Mexico