Nearly 30 thousand people were murdered in Mexico in 2017. The highest number in two decades. It's why the CIA compares the levels of violence with Iraq and Syria.<br /><br />The drugs trade is at the epicentre of the crime wave. A huge increase in the production and supply has resulted in a multi billion pound black market and the competition among the cartels for a slice of the fortunes has left the police struggling to cope.<br /><br />Extortion, kidnapping and murder are daily events.<br /><br />Sky's Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been to the country to speak to those involved - the bosses, the police, the producers,the hitmen carrying out the violence and those affected.<br /><br />Stuart tells Sky News presenter Tom Macleod about his experience covering the story, the terrifying stand-offs and the high-security visits to the poppy fields.
