Use of Mexico's Marines in Drug Ops Down 40% Under President Pena Nieto James Bargent - InSight
go to original April 11, 2013

The number of Marines involved in counternarcotics operations in Mexico has fallen 40 percent since Enrique Peña Nieto took power, in another sign of Mexico's shifting security priorities.

Under Mexico's previous president, Felipe Calderon, the Marines grew to have over 20,000 active agents, many of whom were used in counternarcotics operations including raids targeting top drug traffickers and "high impact" deployments to violent hotspots.

However, since the start of last December, when Peña Nieto assumed the presidency, the number of Marines involved in counter-narcotics operations has dropped to just over 14,000 - a 40 percent reduction on November's levels, reported La Jornada.

According to naval sources consulted by La Jornada, the reduction is part of the strategy being implemented by new Navy Commander Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz, which is more focused on intelligence gathering.

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