A recent murder of a Mexican police chief on the Mexican-American border highlights the increasing violence of the drug cartels as they are vying for control of the border. Mexican police chief, Rolando Armando Flores Villegas, was found decapitated after invading cartel territory while investigating the murder of a US citizen on a lake at the border. David Hartley, the US citizen who was vacationing in Mexico, was presumably murdered while jet skiing on Falcon Lake on September 30. Both Hartley and his wife crossed paths with an armed speed boat. Commander Flores was the Mexican police chief overseeing the investigation. The brutal tactics of the cartels were displayed in the death of Flores. A suitcase was left outside a military base with the head of Flores inside. It is unclear whether the murder of Commander Flores is due to his part in the investigation of Hartley. Prior to his death, Commander Flores named two suspects involved with the investigation of Hartley’s murder in a media interview. The two suspects are reportedly part of the Zeta cartel. However, a spokesman for the Tamaulipas State prosecutor denies any suspects in the case. Mexican officials claim that Commander Flores was involved in several investigations, any of which could be the motive for his death. Over the past four years, two Mexican Drug Cartels have been competing for the territory on the border; this region includes Lake Falcon. The Mexican Army has had to intervene regularly. The United States has taken action by issuing travel warnings to Americans to take caution while in Mexico. The murder of the police chief has demonstrated the rise of the cartel violence for the control of the border; the cartels are singling out individuals who try to cross them.

This article provides more evidence that the Mexican Drug Cartels have undermined state authority. This was a warning from the cartels to try to intimidate law enforcement. The cartels recognize the importance of the powerful individuals and are eliminating the ones that threaten their business. Such action undermines the legitimacy of the state. The state is unable to protect its citizens. Mexico is struggling to eliminate the cartels because the cartels challenged the power of the state. Cartels are becoming more brazen in their attacks on individuals who are threatening their power, undermining authority by violence. The cartels are targeting governmental officials, police officials, and news reporters—all are important governmental institutions.  Murder is the means of doing business for the cartels. No government protection has been able to cease the brutality of the cartels. The death of Hartley proves that violence is an increasing threat in the United States. The cartels are showing signs of increasing violence in methods to eliminate possible challenge.