The "war on drugs" dates back to the 70s or 80s, starting from either the Nixon or Reagan administrations (depending on which way you look at it). Even if we take the 90s as a starting point, that's an entire generation lost to pointless violence. Entire governments corrupted by the deluge of narco profits.

The "cross border gun trafficking operations" you're referring to involved about 2k guns, of which 1/3 were recovered. Terrible bungling, surely, but a drop in the bucket.[1]

The CIA/Contra cocaine trafficking was probably far more consequential.[2]

The brazenness of the cartels comes from the insane profits they earn. They can buy off anyone, and if they can't they can hire anyone to get rid of them. And their insane profits are due to how scarce and illegal their products are in the US. Take away their economic base and they become far more vulnerable.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATF_gunwalking_scandal

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_involvement_in_Contra_coca...

I meant in Mexico. Things move slower here

Cartels have killed hundreds of Mexican government figures, including presidential candidates. I'm not sure the police chief of cdmx is a much higher profile target.

A decade ago, Chapo was burning tractor trailers on all the major highways in plazas to box his enemies in, fighting them for hours in broad daylight.

With that said, the homicides in Mexico have absolutely exploded under the current US and Mexican administrations, CJNG shot a helicopter down, etc. It's sad this escalation doesn't get more attention.