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Dublin: 15 °C Saturday 25 May, 2013

Mexico’s interior minister dies in helicopter crash

Francisco Blake Mora, who was the government’s strongman on the country’s violent drugs war, was among the eight victims of a helicopter crash outside Mexico City today.

Francisco Blake Mora in 2011. He was the government's no. 2 official next to the president.
Francisco Blake Mora in 2011. He was the government's no. 2 official next to the president.
Image: Eduardo Verdugo/AP/Press Association Images

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT has confirmed that one of its top security officials was killed in a helicopter crash this morning.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a government spokeswoman said authorities located the aircraft outside Mexico City and that Interior Minister Francisco Blake Mora was among the dead.

The 45-year-old was one of eight people killed in the crash.

Mora was the face of the Government in the ongoing war on drug traffickers.

When the crash occurred this morning he was on his way to meet judicial officials in Cuernavaca in Morelos, reports the BBC. He frequently travelled to cities torn apart by violence to meet with local authorities.

He had pledged on many occasions to continue to fight against traffickers, despite the bloodiness of the war.

As Interior Minister, Mora also oversaw the country’s response to natural disasters.

It is still unclear what caused today’s crash. One of Mora’s predecessors, Jose Camilo Mourino, died in a plane crash three years ago. Although it remains unproven, some Mexicans believe the crash was plotted by drug cartels.

Read more: Drugs gang drops severed heads near military camp in Mexico City>

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Comments (6 Comments)

  • Daniel R 11/11/11 #

    Jesus

    Reply
  • An appeal to Prohibitionists:

    Colombia, Peru, Mexico or Afghanistan with their coca leaves, marijuana buds or poppy sap are not igniting temptation in the minds of our weak, innocent citizens. These countries are duly responding to the enormous demand that comes from within our own borders. Invading or destroying these countries, thus creating more hate, violence, instability, injustice and corruption, will not fix our problem. We need to collectively admit that we are sick. — Prohibition is neither a sane nor a safe approach; left unabated, its puritanical flames will surely engulf every last one of us.

    Most of us are aware by now that individuals who use illegal drugs are going to get high, ‘no matter what.’ So why do you not prefer they acquire them in stores that check IDs and pay taxes? Gifting the market in narcotics to ruthless criminals, foreign terrorists and corrupt law enforcement officials is seriously compromising our future. If you remotely believe that people will one day quit using any of these ‘at present’ illegal drugs, then you are exhibiting a degree of naivety parallel only with those poor wretches who voluntarily drank the poisoned Kool-Aid in Jonestown.

    Even if you cannot stand the thought of people using drugs, there is absolutely nothing you, or any government, can do to stop them. We have spent 40 years and over a trillion dollars on this dangerous farce. Practically everybody is now aware that Prohibition will not suddenly and miraculously start showing different results. So why do you wish to continue with it? Do you actually think you may have something to lose If we were to start basing drug policy on science & logic instead of ignorance, hate and lies?

    Maybe you’re a police officer, a prison guard or a local politician. Possibly you’re scared of losing employment, overtime-pay, the many kick-backs and those regular fat bribes. But what good will any of that do you once our society has followed Mexico over the dystopian abyss of dismembered bodies, vats of acid and marauding thugs carrying gold-plated AK-47s with leopard skinned gunstocks?

    Kindly allow us to forgo the next level of your sycophantic prohibition-engendered mayhem!

    Prohibition Prevents Regulation : Legalize, Regulate and Tax!

    Reply
  • Given that he was supporting the drug war and not against it I can’t see a conspiracy here.

    Reply
  • Dario Fo 12/11/11 #

    Black Hawk Down, Black Hawk Darabaldo…

    Reply

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