No they are not, they skirmish with the Local authorities, and the federal officials are wise enough not to constantly annoy them with busts. The local authorities don't have the manpower to actually try and stop their day to day activities. Plus joe blow the cop isn't motivated to kill anyone just because chief isn't pleased with some numbers. Remember if a police officer not on cartel payroll steps into any place where the cartel deems important, shots will be fired. They aren't some Mexi-Cali thugs with long socks out there "repping" their neighborhood. They are a paid army of people. With more loyalty to their cause than any officer struggling to pay the bills.