While no loss of life is ideal in any situation, the streets of Mexico are safer tonight, as Braulio Arellano Dominguez, also known as “El Gonzo,” “Zeta 20″ or “El Verdugo,” is being reported dead.

The alleged drug czar was mortally wounded in a gun-fight with authorities, according CNN, during which he opened fire first. He was pronounced dead on the way to the hosptial.

According to www.CNN.com

“Officials said they confiscated five cars, four motorcycles, a submachine gun, a hand grenade, four pistols, more than 150 rounds of ammunition, communication equipment, three bags containing unspecified powder and pills, 74,900 pesos ($5,655) and $107 in U.S. currency.”

To read the full story, please click here.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano commended today the seizure of 630 kilograms of cocaine by Mexican customs officials at Mexico City International Airport using non-intrusive screening equipment also utilized by DHS and training provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement —part of a major transnational cooperative effort to combat international drug smuggling and deter drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Over the past several weeks, we have stepped up our efforts to stop Southwest border violence at its source—the trafficking of drugs, guns and cash. This seizure illustrates how DHS is working closely with Mexico to share best practices and expertise to ensure that both countries are taking action to secure the border,” said Secretary Napolitano. “As we strengthen relationships between DHS, Mexico and our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners along the border, we will continue to deter these illegal activities and make our countries safer.”

To read the full story, visit http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1242936828053.shtm

In this weekend’s The New York Times: Week in Review, Larry Rohter wrote an op-ed worth reading on how Mexico has handled the swine flu crisis and the inevitable bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico.  Here are two good excerpts from the article:

“Just for argument’s sake, let’s compare Mexico’s management of the swine flu epidemic that broke out here last month with China’s handling of SARS in 2002. The Chinese initially tried to deny there was an outbreak, were slow to combat its spread and resisted cooperation with foreign investigators. By the time SARS was brought under control, more than 700 people had died. Mexico’s conduct has been different. The authorities may have been slow to identify the threat, but once they did, they quickly notified international health agencies, acted efficiently to prevent the epidemic from mushrooming, and began working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. As of Friday, the death toll was 45.”