Part 8/12:
Their deep integration within various countries and extensive personnel on the ground—a mixture of organized crime and paramilitary tactics—pose unique challenges for law enforcement and military interventions. Historically, efforts to combat them head-on have yielded limited success, as exemplified during President Felipe Calderón's military crackdown in Mexico from 2006 to 2012. The violence during that period intensified without dismantling the cartels, illustrating the resilience and adaptability of these organizations.