Mexico fears rise of vigilante justice.

[Os Cangaceiros]

MEXICO CITY—A self-styled drug-trafficking group calling itself the "Zeta Killers" claimed responsibility this week for the recent murders of at least 35 people believed to belong to the Zetas, Mexico's most violent criminal organization.

The claim by the "Mata Zetas" has stoked fears that Mexico, like Colombia a generation before, may be witnessing the rise of paramilitary drug gangs that seek society's approval and tacit consent from the government to help society confront its ills, in this case, the Zetas.

AUC all over again?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204226204576599161405735224.html?m od=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird

[Black_Rose]

AUC all over again?


AUC? Integral?


Mata Zetas is more similar to Los Pepes (the people persecuted under Pablo Escobar) rather than the AUC. Both groups were drug traffickers (FARC merely taxed the cocaine trade).

[Os Cangaceiros]

I don't know much about Colombia, tbh...the AUC was the most famous of the paras, though, to the best of my knowledge, and when I saw Colombia name-dropped I automatically thought of them.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

This is rather interesting.I wonder if this will spread to other cities and facilitate a wider conflict.

[black magick hustla]

yea i discussed the rise of paramlitaries with some friends a bit ago. it was basically very predictable. if the state is unable to defend a huge, important faction of the boss class that faction is just going to pay some 16 yos with a soup of lentils and an ak 47 to protect them. colombia all over again

[RedSonRising]

Oh God, I hope this doesn't happen. The independent "Social Cleansing" groups in Colombia are horrendous, let alone the AUC and other Paramilitaries.

[Tablo]

I see things going in this direction. The cartels have gathered so much power I don't think anything can really challenge them at this point. Only the death of the profit motive or legalization of all substances will bring an end to it. Even with legalization the cartels will just morph into 'legitimate' businesses.