Arrests in Mexican drug fight tops 60,000

MEXICO CITY, May 1 (UPI) -- More than 60,000 suspects have been arrested during the last two years in connection with Mexico's ongoing fight against drug trafficking, figures show.

The Washington Post said Friday that government statistics show the Mexican army alone was responsible for 12,251 arrests between December 2006 to March this year.

Defense Ministry figures indicate the number of monthly arrests by the military in Mexico has increased by 129 percent since 2007 to some 681 a month.

The increasing number of arrests came after Mexican President Felipe Caldero declared war against drug cartels in his country in December 2006 and granted law enforcement duties to the military.

An estimated 150,000 people in Mexico are currently suspected of taking part in the drug trafficking trade, the Post said, making the 60,000 arrests an impressive figure.

But Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas program director for Human Rights Watch, said such high arrest numbers may not necessarily mean Mexico is weakening the drug trade.

"They can point to the numbers and say they are doing an effective job, but you have to ask: 'What do these numbers really mean? Are all those arrested back out on the streets?'" Vivanco said.