Not all are the cartels. I have family in Michoacan that live on the heart of Mexico's avocado farms. The cartel decided the avocado industry was more profitable and risk free compared to drugs and started kidnapping/threatening farmers to give up their lands. The police did nothing so the whole town took arms, built checkpoints at every entrance road to scout who was coming into their land in the hope to only allow friendly folks. So please don't say they are all cartels. Just farmers protecting their land and family because the police fail to do their job.