Sicario Activity Down in Juárez so far in September

After several months of warfare among rival gangs in Juárez, scrambling to protect turf in the increasingly lucrative local market for choice drugs, such as crystal meth, heroin, coke, and other substances, the murder rate appears to have dipped significantly in the last couple of weeks.  Why would this be?  Is the average sicario getting his kids ready for school?  Is discipline being restored by the major cartels, who until now have left gangs alone to squabble for turf?  Are things quieting down until the on-the-ground policies of the new presidential administration,  (AMLO will take over in December) shake out?  Do changes in the local political scene have an impact?  It may take a while for the pros who follow Mexican drug cartel activity on both sides of the border figure things out and, if they choose, to let us know.  Meanwhile, lower and mi-level business men and women providing services to powerful organizations involved in the commercializing and transshipment of popular recreational drugs are probably  breathing a cautious sigh of relief.

 

Mexican production of poppies for heroin is up to record highs, according to the ONDCP, the White House's coordinating agency for drug control.  The White House has announced its concern about this.  Will separating more children from their families help reduce this production?  Will another announcement about Mexican immigrants being rapists help in this battle?  Will unilateral destruction of the NAFTA agreement result in lower poppy production?  Is there any connection between the acreage of poppies in Mexico and the state of US-Mexico relations?