Welcome to the jungle - Mexican drug cartels move into Colombia

A series of arrests in February highlighted the growing links between Colombian and Mexican drug cartels. Marking the culmination of the two-year Operation Fronteras (Borders), on 8 February police detained at least 21 suspected cartel members in eight Colombian cities, including Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. These included 12 pilots and a woman whom Colombian police believe acted as a link between Colombian cartels and Joaquín 'El Chapo' (the Shorty) Guzmán, head of Mexico's powerful northern Sinaloa cartel. The operation targeted several different Colombian groups, including that of Daniel 'El Loco' (the Crazy) Barrera and Los Rastrojos. During the raids, 25 aircraft were seized, which allegedly flew from seven airstrips around the country.

The arrests indicate the extent to which Mexican and Colombian groups are strengthening their links, and the manner in which arrests in either country may impact on drug developments. The Mexican police have also made progress against drug cartels in recent months. Arturo Beltrán Leyva, head of the Beltrán Leyva cartel, was killed on 16 December; his brother Carlos was captured on 3 January; Eduardo 'El Teo' (the Devil) Teodoro García Simental, formerly a key figure in the Tijuana-based Arellano Félix cartel, was captured on 12 January, and his suspected successor Raydel 'El Muletas' (the Crutch) López Uriarte was arrested on 8 February.