Designs by: Lissete Salguero
By Jorge Rolón Luna *
At the end of last year we published a series of articles in which we analyzed the phenomenon of hired assassination from its conceptual, legal and criminal aspects and added its unprecedented quantitative aspects. The numbers of hired assassinations showed us the multi-organ failure of our political system.
Based on a compilation of homicide-for-hire episodes during the years 2020 and 2021, it was obvious ab initio that before the end of the year 2021 (as of October), the number of attacks, deaths and injuries of the previous year had already been exceeded.
We argued that there was a clear upward trend in the phenomenon and that it would not stop but rather worsen.
The year ended with even higher numbers as November and December continued the trend of violence and lethality previously recorded. There were even greater increases in all aspects we have been measuring: episodes, deaths, injuries, casualties (dead and injured).
our society is moved “by the roar of the brutal murder of the day”, but behind the cases that provoke popular outcry, the hired assassination -that terrible symptom of organized crime in association with captured or pacifist sections of the State- causes a trickle of death, pain, orphans and terror that also assassinates social life and democracy.
First, let’s consider hitman attacks: 180 were recorded in 2021, an increase of over 32% regarding 2020 (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Comparison of number of hitmen attacks 2020/2021
Source: own with data from open sources (press).
Compared to 179 casualties (includes fatalities and injuries) in 2020, we had 219 in 2021, an increase of 22% (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Comparison of victims (deaths and injuries) of hired assassinations 2020/2021.
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
The lethality of hired assassin attacks increased significantly. From 140 fatalities in 2020, it rose to 175 in 2021, an increase of 25% (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Comparison of deaths due to hired assassinations 2020/2021
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
Attacks by hired assassins also cause injuries; in 2020 there were 33 people injured while in 2021 40, an increase of 31% (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Comparative number of people injured by hired assassinations 2020/2021.
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
Whichever variable we take into consideration, the increase is spectacular, which proves, we insist, the existence of a well-established and growing phenomenon.
If, in turn, we consider the data collected for the recently ended month of January, the conclusion is similar: the hired assassination rate is growing and does not stop GROWING. This stands out for two reasons: first, January 2022 has been more violent and deadly than January 2020 and 2021 (in episodes -Figure 5-, victims -Figure 6-, deceased -Figure 7); and, second, it has surpassed the most lethal and violent month of the previous year (October/2021: 22 episodes, 25 deceased, 7 wounded).
Figure 5. Comparative number of hit-and-run episodes January 2020/20/202122
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
Figure 6. Comparative number of victims of hired assassination January 2020/20/202122
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
Figure 7. Comparison of deaths due to hired assassinations January 2020/20/202122
Source: own elaboration with data from open sources (press).
As we pointed out in a previous issue, our society is moved “by the roar of the brutal murder of the day”, but behind the cases that provoke popular outcry, the hired assassination -that terrible symptom of organized crime in association with captured or pacifist sections of the State- causes a trickle of death, pain, orphans and terror that also assassinates social life and democracy.
* Independent researcher, teacher, writer, author of the book of short stories “Los sicarios“.