Part 3/15:
He describes how, in the early years, law enforcement and military agencies often turned a blind eye, allowing cartel convoys to traverse cities openly. This permissiveness stemmed from widespread collusion and fear—an unspoken pact rooted in corruption and intimidation, especially during the administration of President Felipe Calderón. Calderón’s declaration of war in 2006 militarized the efforts, turning what was once a policing problem into a counterinsurgency campaign.