MEXICO CITY – Powerful drug gangs control parts of Mexico despite a wide-ranging crackdown involving thousands of federal troops, a top security official said Thursday.

Roberto Campa, executive secretary of Mexico’s National Public Security Council, said the military offensive was successful in regaining a few drug strongholds, but other areas remained under the thumb of traffickers.

“There are places where drug dealers have replaced the local government,” he said. He declined to name specific cities or regions.

Since taking office Dec. 1, President Felipe Calderón has sent 24,000 troops and federal police into Tijuana, Acapulco and Michoacan state to root out growing drug trafficking that is blamed for more than 2,000 killings last year.

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