Part 1: Violence and Corruption in Mexico: How Did We Get Here? Part 2: Zetas: Soldiers to Traffickers
Wed, Oct 07
|Rocky Mountain HIDTA
Examines pivotal events and Mexico's evolving narco-political culture and history and examines the events that led to the founding of the Zetas and how they introduced militarized methodologies now viewed as commonplace practices throughout all cartels in Mexico.
Time & Location
Oct 07, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Rocky Mountain HIDTA, 369 Inverness Pkwy suite 300, Englewood, CO 80112, USA
Class Description
Violence and Corruption in Mexico: How Did We Get Here?
8:30am - 12:00pm
Background of Instructor & Synopsis of Topic:
This course is taught by Mike Chavarria, an author and consultant with 33 years of federal law enforcement experience, 32 of which were with the Drug Enforcement Administration. During most of his years with the DEA, Mike's cases had a strong nexus to Mexico's notorious cartels. Beginning his career in 1985, he held assignments in South and Central America, as well as two posts in Mexico: Guadalajara, Resident in Charge, 2001-2005; and Mexico City, Liaison with the Intelligence Community, 2008-2010.
Considered one of DEA's leading experts on Mexico's drug trade and related topics, the following presentation reviews pivotal events spanning several decades, beginning in the 1970s, when cartels were known simply as "family clans." With the assistance of corrupt government alliances that assured an unobstructed pathway to smuggling and guarantees…