The BBC has an analysis on the current differences between Mexico and Colombia’s battles with the illegal drug trade.

From BBC News:

In Mexico, 1,378 drug-related killings have taken place so far this year, a rise of 50% compared with the same period in 2007. Acting chief of police Edgar Millan was among the victims.

In Colombia, authorities followed a series of successes against leading drug-traffickers by capturing one of the wanted Mejia Munera twins and shooting dead the other.

“These countries are at different stages of the timeline,” an unnamed US official told the BBC.