How is Manzanillo and the state of Colima doing in

Calderon's "War on Drugs"?


Better armed and trained police officers

Many people in this state are working very hard to make positive changes and protect citizens from the cartels. Obviously, with Manzanillo being the biggest port in Mexico, the cartel leaders want to control Colima, especially the port, where much of the drugs, arms, and precursor chemicals arrive. Our elected officials are passing new laws, developing new programs, and increasing the patrols of the Army, Navy, and the various police forces to prevent that from happening.


Burning of drugs from a raid
They are routinely catching and locking up bad guys (most from out of state); buying new equipment for our police officers (better guns and bulletproof vests), getting them better training, and paying them more than any other police force in the entire country. Better pay; less chance of corruption, according to the government.

The port of Manzanillo is also the headquarters for the Pacific Naval Fleet, as well as the Mexican Army. Over the years, they have done some amazing military maneuvers, and have busted hundreds of people for drug trafficking, weapons violations and murder. More criminals are caught and jailed than get away in Colima, and the government plans to augment the current security by establishing many new ideas.

You can feel safe in Colima wherever you go. Most people who live here are not afraid.  The people of this state do not want the cartels here; they want Colima to be a better place to raise their families without fear. Criminals are caught many times by an anonymous tip, and Colima has a free emergency number if you suspect someone is up to no good. And guess what, the police will come—immediately. (In some border states, the police don't show up for hours after an incident--or after they're sure the criminal got away.)


Navy helicopters in the skies


Confiscated weapons

We have a very good “neighborhood watch” program, even though it isn’t official. The free numbers to call follow almost every story of  an arrest on the daily police page of every newspaper, both online and printed:

Se hace un llamado a la población en general para que denuncie de manera anónima hechos delictivos a la PGJ a los teléfonos gratuitos: 01 800 581 l770, 01 800 506 8360, así como al 01 800 830 6415.


Army destroying fields of marijuana

Here are some of the accomplishments of the Manzanillo and Colima government, police and military.

  1. Training of federal customs agents at the port on how to recognize and identify different types of drugs and their precursor chemicals;
  2. The secretary of education has initiated a new program in the secondary schools throughout the state, with more than 23,000 students participating in “By Being Free of Addictions, You Learn More”;
  3. Former governor Silverio Cavazos invested 800 thousand pesos (about $67,000 USD) in equipment to detect drugs, arms, explosives and IEDs—specifically: black powder, ammonium nitrate, plastic explosive, black powder fuse, dynamite, amphetamines, methamphetamines, ecstasy, and Chinese, Czech and Russian semtex;
  4. The state has passed a law prohibiting dark tinted windows in vehicles, and in the first month ticketed more than 350 vehicles for same. (Criminals are known to like that method of hiding--both their faces and guns/ammunition inside the vehicle. Police office have been killed because they couldn't see what was inside the vehicle.)
  5. In a 2-day joint operation, Dec. 9 and 10, the PGR and the Mexican Navy, captured César Gerardo Larios García alias “El Indio”, alleged head of the organized crime in Colima. Also seized were a cache of weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, various handguns, marijuana and cell phones. The raids took place in 3 different houses in Colima, Tecoman and a warehouse in central Manzanillo.
  6. At the port the PGR has found and destroyed 37 tons of the precursor chemical pseudoephedrine (Oct. 2009);
  7. Of the 32 states and the D.F., Colima ranks third to last in illicit drug consumption and the fourth to last with less people dependent on alcohol. According to the Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones, they reveal that Colima state has illicit drug use of 2.4% of the population between 12 and 65 years of age, only below Tlaxcala, with 2.2, and Chiapas, with 1.7%.
  8. Of the 32 states and the D.F., Colima ranks fourth to last in alcohol dependency. 3% of the population between 12 y 65, only below Chiapas, with 2.5%; Guanajuato, 2.3%, and Baja California, with 1.5%.
  9. In fulfillment to the Program of Destruction of Narcotics and Article 181 of the Federal Code of Penal Procedures, the general office of the judge advocate general of the Republic (PGR) incinerated almost 60 kilos of diverse drugs, related to 176 arrests. Before the presence of personnel of the Internal Contraloría of the PGR, 58 kilos, 555 gm, 900 mg of marijuana; 19 gm 400 mg of marijuana seed, 21 plants of marijuana, 294 gm 951 mg of methamphetamine; 203 gm 25 mg of cocaine; and 58 gm 100 mg of heroin were destroyed. (Nov. 2009)
  10. The PGR of Colima incinerated 11 kilos, 58 gm of diverse drugs related to 54 arrests: 65 mg of marijuana, 4 plants of marijuana, 90 units of psychotropic drugs (LSD), 47 gm 513 mg of methamphetamine, and 8 gm of cocaine. (Jan. 2010)
  11. The PGR of Colima, incinerated diverse drugs related to 309 arrests: 91 kilos 522 gm 447 mg of methamphetamine; 12 kilos 943 gm 849 mg of marihuana; 154 marijuana plants; 3 kilos, 153 gm 900 mg of cocaine; 14 gm 300 mg of heroin; 100 mg of amphetamine; 100 mg of pseudoephedrine; 160 gm marijuana seeds; and 32 tablets of LSD. (March 2010)
  12. Working along with the PGR, Tecoman preparatory and university teachers and principals learn about the different types of drugs, what they look like, in case a student is seen with them, or unknown substances are found in a student’s backpack. (April 2010)
  13. In Colima primary schools this year, students are given an 83-question test to determine future problems with drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction, sexual orientation, sexual abuse and family violence. Of the students questioned, 15 were found to have drug-related problems.
  14. In June 2010, the PGR arrested 61 individuals on charges relating to possession and distribution of drugs, namely: 445 kilos, 800 gm of ephedrine; 49 kilos, 202 gm, 500 mg of cocaine; 12 kilos, 6 gm, 289 mg marijuana; 478 grams, 600 mg methamphetamine; 300 mg heroin; 4 marijuana plants, and a sheet of tabs of LSD.
  15. In August, 2010 in Colima, the Programa Nacional de Combate al Narcomenudeo, arrested 35 individuals for drug trafficking, and seized and destroyed: 9 tons of phenyl ethyl alcohol; 64 tons of phenyl acetate; 83 tons, 800 kilos of ethyl alcohol; 5 tons of phenyl ethanol; 3 kilos, 771 grams, 500 mg. of marijuana; 3 gm., 300 mg. cocaine; 15 gm., 600 mg. methamphetamine; 203 gms. 500 mg. of heroin; and 2 sheets LSD.
  16. Also in August in the Programa Nacional de Control de Drogas, 53 individuals were arrested, and seized were 2 kilos, 103 gm., 400 mg. of marijuana; 1 kilo, 721 gm., 930 mg. of methamphetamine; 200 mg. cocaine; and 50,000 pesos.
  17. For violation of the Federal Firearms Act, 20 pistols, 15 assault rifles, 2,789 bullets, 98 clips, and 3 grenades were seized and destroyed. (August 2010)
  18. This December, the PGR arrested Leonardo Lopez Vasquez, “El Leo” with an AK-47 assault rifle, clips and cartridges; a .38 pistol, clips and cartridges, and 1 kilo, 538 gm. marijuana.
  19. This December, two men, Isidro Ruelas Corrales y José Severiano De la O Mora, were arrested with the following firearms in their possession: IMI Galil calibre 7.62 mm; AK – 47, calibre 7.62 mm; AK-42, calibre 7.62 mm; Colt M-16, calibre 5.56 mm; M-16, calibre 5.56, equipped with a Grenada launcher; Winchester rifle scope; 1 9 mm Beretta pistol, 1 .38 Colt Super; calibre 9 mm; 1 S&W .22 mm, 4 grenades; 17 clips for AK-47; 2 clips calibre .223 mm; 2 clips calibre 308 mm.; 2 clips 9 mm pistol; 2 clips 38 super; 1 clip pistol .22 mm; 629 cartridges 7.62 x 39 mm; 93 cartridges calibre .223 mm; 23 cartridges calibre .12 mm; 26 cartridges calibre 38 Super; 15 cartridges calibre 9 mm.; 84 cartridges calibre 7.62 mm; 135 cartridges calibre 308 mm; 34 cartridges calibre .22 mm; short wave radio; a cartridge belt, a Dodge Ram king cab, model 2010 with Jalisco plates, and a Chevy Tracker, no plates.
  20. 100 Kilos, 220 gm. of cocaine was destroyed by the Mexican Navy this month. (Dec. 2010)
  21. The Mexican Army located and burned 3,000 sq. meters (0.741 acre) of marijuana Dec. 2 in Minitatlan. The density of the plants was 5/sq. meter, or 15,000 plants. Also found was 15 kilos of packaged marijuana, and 300 grams of seeds.
  22. On Dec. 12, the PGR burned 12 kilos, 819 gm.300 mg. of marijuana; 4 kilos, 802 mg. of methamphetamine, 896 gm. 600 mg. of marijuana seeds; 4 gm. 509 mg. of cocaine; and 3 gm. of heroin. This was the result of raids on secret labs.
  23. The governor announced that the roads where criminal groups cross into Colima from Michoacan and Jalisco will be closely guarded by elements of the army and navy as well as state and municipal police. (Dec. 10)

This information was derived from the following source, and translated into English: Radio Levy has a police page (in Spanish) with much more than mentioned here. No claim is made as to the accuracy of the information mentioned above.

For those who do not read Spanish, this online translator is helpful, but not exact.

Story about Manzanillo’s safety.

Story about the factors relating to Manzanillo's safety.