Mexico Drug War

More than 47,000 people have been killed in drug violence in the 5 years since President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown against drug cartels.47,515 drug-related killings occurred when Calderon deployed thousands of troops to drug hot spots  from December 2006 to September 2011.
The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing  armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels fighting each other for regional control, and Mexican Govt. forces seeking to combat drug trafficking.
Mexico, a major drug producing and transit country, is the main foreign supplier of cannabis and a major supplier of  methamphetamine to USA.Almost half the cartels revenue come from cannabis. Drug cartels in Mexico control approximately 70% of the foreign narcotics that flow into USA.
                                                         The states where most of the conflict takes place, marked in red.

Mexican drug cartels, or drug trafficking organizations, have existed for several decades, they have become more powerful in the 1990s. 
Mexican cartels advance their operations, in part, by corrupting or intimidating law enforcement officials.Under the 'Cleanup Operation' performed in 2008, several agents and high ranking officials have been arrested and charged with selling information or protection to drug cartels.
Mexico is considered the most dangerous country in the world to practice journalism because more than 80 journalists have been killed for publishing narco-related news.