,     A look at the inside of a car - the scene of an assassination in the city of Juarez. Saturday December 20,2008. The morgue in the city of Juarez.  In the last year the violence between the drug cartels has risen.  More than 1500 people have been murdered and taken to the city morgue.  Overworked doctors remove bullet fragments from the bodies that are brought in as evidence. Federal police officers stand over suspects taken into custody in connection with a shooting in Tijuana, Mexico. Monday, March 9, 2009. Mexico's cartels are losing their grip on the prized U.S. drug market, largely because of a cross-border crackdown and a regional shift in worldwide cocaine consumption. Federal police officers take a suspect into custody in connection with a shooting in Tijuana, Mexico. Monday, March 9, 2009. Federal police officers take a suspects into custody in connection with a shooting in Tijuana, Mexico. Monday, March 9, 2009. Jaurez, after dark. Roberto, aka "poncho", the leader of Juarez's Baja 13 gang, Thursday, March 26, 2009. A night operation by the Tijuana's Special Tactics Unit checking cars and people for cocaine and narcotics. Monday, March 9, 2009. Tijuana Special Tactics Unit leading suspected drug dealers to the local detention center in downtown Tijuana, Monday, March 9, 2009. A funeral of a Mexican policeman who was assassinated in Juarez by members of one of the drug cartels that fight for control of the city. Thursday December 18,2008. Funeral of a Mexican policeman. Funeral of a Mexican policeman. OCTOBER 2012 BACK ISSUE Santa Muerte (Saint Death) has been regarded as a religious cult by the Catholic Church.  The cult has been closely linked to the lower classes.  Most prayers and other rites are practiced privately at home.  Recently worship has become more public, especially in Mexico city. Back to current issue