Officials: Juárez reports 38 percent fewer homicides in 2011

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/02/2012 12:10:54 AM MST

Juárez reported 38 percent fewer homicides in 2011 than in 2010, according to Chihuahua state statistics.

The city ended another year of drug cartel wars with 1,904 homicides in 2011, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 23, compared to 3,117 in 2010.

Juárez had 2,643 homicides in 2009 and 1,607 homicides in 2008.

Police reported the first homicide of the year Sunday with the death of a 60-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle, based on a preliminary investigation.

He was identified as Ezequiel Carvajal Zavala, whose body was found near the intersection of Las Maravillas and Piramide.

Officials said a bullet casing was found nearby, but they didn't know yet if the man was also shot.

Nationally, Mexico had 51,918 homicides since President Felipe Calderon announced a crackdown against the drug cartels.

Over the past four years, rival drug cartels led by Vicente "Viceroy" Carrillo Fuentes and Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman have waged a bloody battle for control of the Juárez-El Paso smuggling corridor.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_19657009