EL DIARIO: 1,247 homicides reported in Juarez in 2018
2018 ended as one of the deadliest years for Ciudad Juárez in recent times.
El Diario de Juárez reported there were 1,247 homicides, a number comparable to the most violent era for the city from 2008 to 2011.
For perspective, here are the number of homicides reported in previous years (All from El Diario):
2008: 2,570
2009: 2,539
2010: 3,057
2011: 1,926
2012: 789
2013: 514
2014: 436
2015: 311
2016: 546
2017: 771
2018: 1,247
“Juárez in an extremely lucrative drug-smuggling route,” Robert Almonte said.
He is a former U.S. marshal and retired El Paso police detective who trains law enforcement across the U.S. about narcotics and the drug cartels.
“What’s going on regarding the violence, you have the different cartels and gangs that are fighting each other and trying to gain control of the drug-smuggling route,” Almonte said.
The problem appears to be caused by new cartels that are forming.
“For example, you have the Assassin Artists who used to be the enforcers for the Sinaloa cartel, Almonte said. “They broke away from Sinaloa, they’re fighting Sinaloa. And you have the Barrio Azteca gang. They used to be with the Juárez cartel.”
Almote said a lot of methamphetamines are coming from Mexico. He said it’s the number one drug that law enforcement in the U.S. has to deal with.
It’s why Almonte thinks nothing will change unless Mexico gets a handle the drug situation and dismantles the gangs and cartels.
The gangs will continue fighting for the territory, according to Almonte.
Almonte believes the number of homicides in Juárez will likely remain high in 2019.
