Mexico's violent year of drugs

Mexican Army soldiers patrol near a crime scene following a shoot-out in Tijuana, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Tijuana is among the cities hardest hit by violence as Mexico's drug cartels battle for lucrative smuggling routes past the border to supply illegal drug users in the United States. The war between the Mexican drug cartels has left 5,300 dead this year, according to the local press. See more photography at Boston.com/photos
Mexican Army soldiers patrol near a crime scene following a shoot-out in Tijuana, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Tijuana is among the cities hardest hit by violence as Mexico's drug cartels battle for lucrative smuggling routes past the border to supply illegal drug users in the United States. The war between the Mexican drug cartels has left 5,300 dead this year, according to the local press.

See more photography at
Boston.com/photos
(AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)