Whack-a-mole Drug War: Inside the Moral Code of the Caballeros Drug Gang

From 'InSight Crime'

Inside the Moral Code of the Caballeros Drug Gang: "A new report from the Associated Press provides excerpts from the Cabelleros’ code of conduct, which includes such imperatives as to “fight against materialism, injustice and tyranny.” Most of the requirements seem to have little connection to the gang’s operations in reality; fighting tyranny and materialism is hard to reconcile with extortion, drug trafficking, and murder, all three of which are frequently employed by the Caballeros, as they were by the Familia before them. ...

As InSight Crime reported last week, the Caballeros also seem to aggressively court the mainstream media, in an effort to influence the news agenda and get their point of view represented. ...

It remains unclear exactly what the Caballeros are trying to accomplish with all of the merchandising and the rosy picture of their group promoted in the code of conduct. Presumably, the vast majority of the public sees the Caballeros for what they are -- an organized crime syndicate -- and any fealty they pay to Gomez’s crew is due to fear, and not to the transparently self-serving arguments put forth in the pamphlet."