The Big Story El Mencho out, violence persists: where does Mexico go from here?
Feb 24, 2026
Jerry Flores, sociology professor at the University of Toronto who studies migration, violence and Indigenous communities. He traces cartel rise and leadership succession. He describes daily life under cartel control and typical violent fallout after a leader’s death. He talks about new cartel tactics, local police challenges, U.S.-Mexico links, risks to Canadians in Mexico, and disinformation dangers.
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Long Historical Roots Of Mexico's Drug Economy
- Mexico's drug trade grew from 19th-century migrant networks into a modern supply chain feeding US demand.
- Jerry Flores links early opium and marijuana trades through to today's cocaine and fentanyl markets and long-term structural inequality driving participation.
Cartel Jobs Fill Economic Gaps For Young People
- Poverty and lack of upward mobility make cartel work an accessible, immediate income path for many young Mexicans.
- Flores describes university credentials meaning little while cartel work pays quickly and supports families in the short term.
Personal Cost Of Cartel Violence For Families
- Cartel violence is ever-present for working-class and indigenous Mexicans, prompting local self-defence groups called autodefensas.
- Flores shares family experiences including a cousin abducted with her children to illustrate the personal toll.