Mexican drug violence seen increasing

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Mexico say 5,376 people have died this year in drug violence -- more than double the number for the same period last year.

And the death toll is expected to climb, Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora told the Los Angeles Times.

Mexico is seeking more aid and cooperation from the United States, where most of the drugs are consumed and many of the weapons used by the heavily armed drug gangs are bought, the Times reported Tuesday, noting most of the killings have occurred in the northern border regions of Chihuahua, Baja California and Sinaloa.

In recent years, dozens of senior Mexican officials and drug agents have been accused of helping drug gangs, the Times reported.

Medina Mora said that hasn't undermined U.S. confidence in the Mexican government's ability to quash violent drug traffickers.