THE IMPACT OF HIGH-VALUE TARGET KILLINGS ON DRUG CARTEL OPERATIONS: ASSESSING SECURITY STRATEGIES IN MEXICO
The impact of high-value target killings on drug cartel operations in United Mexican States is closely connected to the government’s long-running fight against organized crime. High-value target killings refer to the capture or killing of major cartel leaders, often called “kingpins,” through military and law-enforcement operations.
Since the mid-2000s, the Mexican government has used a “kingpin strategy” to weaken powerful cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. With support from the United States of America through intelligence sharing and security cooperation, Mexico increased the use of military forces, special operations, and surveillance to target cartel leaders.
The strategy aimed to reduce cartel power, disrupt drug trafficking networks, and improve national security. Several high-profile cartel leaders were arrested or killed, including Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains debated.