Operation Michoacán: Drug War Officially Begins

Calderón deploys 6,500 Army soldiers to Michoacán state, framing it as emergency action against cartel violence that had destabilized the region. This marks the formal launch of the drug war strategy and is widely regarded as the start of the Mexican Drug War. The operation targets La Familia Michoacana and allied groups. Military deployments grow to 20,000 troops nationwide within two months.