Mexico Under attack

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has repeatedly criticised the so-called kingpin strategy in the past, on the grounds that it sets off more bloodshed. The problem is that removing gang leaders tends to cause their organisation to splinter, prompting infighting. Murders shoot up.

Mr Trump has put increasing pressure on Ms Sheinbaum to do more to dismantle gangs—or risk the United States doing the work itself with unilateral military strikes. In January the United States said it needed to see more than “incremental progress” in Mexico. The operation to take out El Mencho was supported by American intelligence. He was a top target for the United States because he trafficked drugs into the country, including deadly fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration had offered a $15m reward for information leading to his capture.