Although the DEA and some analysts disagree, others say the Zetas, a paramilitary group of turncoat soldiers and anti-narcotics police, are now running the Gulf cartel.
During this period, Washington provided Colombia with equipment and training for its superb anti-narcotics police, but stipulated that U.S. assistance could not be used to fight the guerrillas.
Responding to the high demand, Guayaquil's anti-narcotics department trained community police officers to talk to schoolchildren, a project that is due to be expanded in 2013.