Mexican law enforcement officials and the media in Mexico have reported numerous drug-related homicides of drug traffickers and police officials in northern Mexico. Much of this drug-related violence is now being aimed at US law enforcement personnel. Violent assaults against federal agents along the southwest border have increased from 156 just five years ago to 500 in 1999. Border Patrol agents find it increasingly difficult to patrol the US-Mexico border, especially when we learn of these bounties being offered by the drug cartels. With our knowledge of the high levels of drug-related violence in Mexico, we must always take these threats seriously.
Drugs present the leading crime challenge in the border region but other crimes are also a problem.
In 1996, there was an average of 60 violent crimes and 654 property crimes each and every day along the Texas border. In other words, a border resident in Texas became the victim of a violent crime every 24 minutes while a property crime occurred in the border region every 2.2 minutes. Corruption Corruption of public officials has been a way of life in Mexico for many decades. Corruption in Mexico extends into almost all walks of life, from driving a taxi to operating a business. These and other drug organizations alike, have the resources and the motivation to take any measures necessary to facilitate their trade including bribery, corruption, violence, and intimidation.