海角大神

After the euphoria of El Chapo鈥檚 arrest, the reality: one drug lord behind bars does not solve Mexico鈥檚 entrenched security issues and violence 鈥撀爀ven if he was one of the world鈥檚 most wanted criminals.

Saturday鈥檚 remarkably undramatic capture of Joaqu铆n Guzm谩n, otherwise known as 鈥淓l Chapo鈥� or "Shorty," will do nothing to address the challenge of Michoac谩n. The Western Mexican state to the south of Mr. Guzman鈥檚 Sinaloa and the site of a worrisome battle between the Knights Templar cartel and grassroots self-defense forces was, until last weekend, the focus of Mexican security forces.

This high-level arrest won鈥檛 have an impact in Veracruz, either. The Gulf coast state has witnessed a dramatic spike in kidnappings and extortion already this year, and 10 journalists investigating state government corruption have been killed in the three years of the current governor鈥檚 administration.

Nor is it likely Guzm谩n鈥檚 detention will reduce a trend that by some calculations has Mexico City winning the dubious title of kidnapping capital of the world.

Guzm谩n 颅鈥� who evaded arrest for more than a decade through connections and a level of public support in his home turf of Sinaloa state 鈥� was a leading symbol of Mexican impunity. Despite what his arrest won't change in the immediate future, his capture in a modest oceanfront condominium in Mexico鈥檚 Pacific coast resort town of Mazatlan was indeed a big victory on several levels.

Taking down the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, which Guzman developed into one of the world鈥檚 most sophisticated and ruthless illicit-trade organizations, was a huge win for Mexican security forces. It was a testament to Mexico鈥檚 Marines, who carried out the operation. It shined a light on the close working cooperation between the Mexican Navy and the US Drug Enforcement Agency 鈥� a relationship with a level of trust often lacking at other higher levels of government.

Guzm谩n鈥檚 fall will no doubt be a feather in the cap of Mexico鈥檚 President Enrique Pe帽a Nieto. That鈥檚 true even though President Pe帽a Nieto has de-emphasized the war with Mexican narcotraffickers that his predecessor, Felipe Calder贸n, pursued relentlessly.

For now, Guzm谩n鈥檚 arrest is being hailed as progress. However, if it results in a resurgence of violence, it could end up refocusing attention on the security problems Pe帽a Nieto has tried to downplay as he pursues his priority economic reforms.

鈥淓veryone has been fairly optimistic about Pe帽a Nieto鈥檚 reforms, but there鈥檚 a dark side to this picture and it鈥檚 the security question,鈥� says Jorge Chabat, an expert in Mexico鈥檚 drug wars and security issues at Mexico City鈥檚 Center for Research and Teaching in Economics.

Since Pe帽a Nieto took office in December 2012, 鈥渉is defining approach has been, 鈥楲et鈥檚 not talk about the security problem, let鈥檚 focus on economic reform,鈥欌�� says Mr. Chabat.

It may be, however, that the fall of Shorty could force a refocusing on Mexico鈥檚 security challenge.