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Mexico's "war" on drugs
Mexico's "war" on drugs
Mexico's "war" on drugs
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Mexico’s economic struggles have given life to ruthless organizations known as the Mexican drug cartels. These drug lords have been a growing source of conflict for decades and fuel the continuous war being fought against drugs. The socio-economic statuses of the areas that harbor these gangs have a direct impact on the cartels’ migration to the United States. America’s more stable economy has enticed the cartels to capitalize on the demand for drugs. Through collaboration between Mexico and the United States the fight to reduce the smuggling and violence on the border can be reduced.
Mexico is ranked as the fourth largest country that is located in the western hemisphere. Their efforts to improve and modernize the economy have been slowed down by the nation’s rugged terrain, limited farm land, and very fast growing population. As of July 2010, there was an estimated 112,468,855 people living in Mexico. About seventy six percent of the population has moved from underdeveloped areas to more developed ones located along the border that the United States and Mexico share. The country has made relatively little economic or political progress, and the people of Mexico continue to struggle. (U.S. Department of State) Because of the lack of economic stability, the drug cartels have become a catastrophic force and are now pushing their destruction into the United States. Due to the lack of jobs and resources many people have felt the need to join the cartel to guarantee the survival of their families.
The lack of resources and week government has left Mexico vulnerable to corruption. This vulnerability has let the cartels take control and take advantage of the country’s weakness. They have been a dominating force in Mexico for decad...
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Suddath, Claire. "A Brief History of The War on Drugs - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 25 Mar. 2009. Time World. 13 Nov. .
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduria General de la Republica, PGR) had issued information related to the conformation of the seven principal drug cartels present at Mexico:
For the 71 years that the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was in power, Mexico saw great political, social and economic upheaval. This can be seen in the evolution of the PRI party, whose reign over Mexican society came at the expense of true democracy. “A party designed for power, the PRI's mechanisms for success involved a combination of repressive measures. The party professed no specific ideology, enabling it to adapt to changing social, economic and political forces over time. It attached itself virtually all aspects of civil society, and in this way, it become the political extension and tool of the government.” In 2000, however, the PRI’s loss of its monopoly on political power and institutional corruption gave rise to inter-cartel violence that was created in the political void left after the PAN won the national presidential election. These conditions gave rise to the Zetas: a new type of cartel that changed the operational structure of previous drug cartels. The Zetas operate in a new militant structure associated with a higher brand of violence, which has led it to branch out beyond a traditional drug smuggling enterprise common under the PRI government. Simply put, the electoral defeat of the PRI in 2000 was supposed to usher in a more democratic era in Mexican politics. Instead, the PRI party’s defeat created a state of chaos that gave rise to inter-cartel violence and the birth of the Zetas cartel.
The cartels are now in control of most of the drug trades and are successful. The Mexican border gives them the power to go everywhere they desire, making them a relentless force. “To date operation Xcellrator has led the arrest of 755 individuals and the seizure of approximately 5 U.S. Currency more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 11,000 of methamphetamine, more than 8 kilograms of heroin, approximately 1.3 million pills of ecstasy”(Doj 2). Mexican cartels extend to central and southern America. Columbia is the supply of much of the cocaine exported to the U.S. Colombia is under control of South American gangs, they do business with the Mexican cartels to transport drugs the north. The Northern Mexican gangs hold the most control because the territory is very important (Wagner1). They are many different types of cartel in Mexico it also signifies that there are killing each other so their cartel can expand an...
New York: New York, 2010. Print. The. Should the U.S. Continue Its War on Drugs? Opposing Views: Issues, Experts, Answers.
Over the last several decades, violence has consumed and transformed Mexico. Since the rise of dozens of Mexican cartels, the Mexican government has constantly been fighting an ongoing war with these criminal organizations. The cartel organizations have a primary purpose of managing and controlling illegal drug trafficking operations in Central America and South America to the United States. Violence on a massive and brutal scale has emerged due to the nature of the illegal drug trade. Because the drug trade is vastly widespread, cartels are often fighting one another and competing in business. Mexican authorities count at least 12 major cartels, but also talk of an untold numbers of smaller splinter groups. (Taipei Times). Five cartels from Mexico have risen to become the extremely powerful amongst all the drug organizations operating in Mexico. The Guadalajara Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, the Juarez Cartel, and the Gulf Cartel. These organizations, along with other distinguished Mexican cartels, have plagued Mexico with violence, terror, and fear due to the essence and nature of illegal drug trafficking.
The Global Commission on Drug Policy (2011). War on Drugs Report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy June 2011. Retrieved from http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/themes/gcdp_v1/pdf/Global_Commission_Report_English.pdf
Drug trafficking has been a massive concern between the borders of Mexico and the U.S. “since mid 1970s” (Wyler, 1). Drug trafficking is “knowingly being in possession, manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or delivering an illegal, controlled substance” (LaMance, 1). A dynamic relationship exists amongst Columbia, Mexico, and the U.S. the informal drug trafficking economy. This growing informal drug economy leads to many individuals creating a substantial living through this undercover market. These individual drug cartels monopolizing the trafficking market are a growing problem for the U.S economy and need to be located and controlled. If this trafficking continues, the U.S. informal economy will crush the growth of legal industries. The trafficking and abuse of drugs in the U.S. affects nearly all aspects of consumer life. Drug trafficking remains a growing issue and concern to the U.S. government. The U.S. border control must find a way to work with Mexico to overpower the individuals who contribute to the drug trafficking business. This market must be seized and these individuals must be stopped.
Kaufman, Stephen. "Obama Drug Strategy: Prevention to Reduce Demand." America - Engaging the World - America.gov. 12 May 2010. Web. 02 Mar. 2011. .
Richard Lowry writes an article for the National Review, quoting a Council on Foreign Relations report on drug eradication policies
Logan, Samuel. (2012, February 16). A profile of Los Zetas: Mexico's second most powerful drug cartel.
“Office of National Drug Control Policy.” The White House. USA, 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. .
President’s Drug Policy (2004). National Drug Control Strategy. Retrieved on April 13, 2005 from www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
Wolf, M. (2011, June 4). We should declare an end to our disastrous war on drugs. Financial Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/870200965?accountid=14473
The "War on Drugs" Palo Alto: Mayfield, 1986. Kennedy, X.J., Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Jane E. Aaron, eds. The Bedford Reader. 6th ed. of the book.
Reported incidents of kidnapping and extortion in Mexico increased in January 2014 when compared to the previous month. Increases in extortion and kidnapping in the first month of 2014 follow reports indicating that in 2013, Mexico recorded its highest totals for these crimes in 17 years. Spokespersons for the federal government have attempted to downplay the data, claiming that it represents better crime reporting. However, the reported growth in extortion and kidnapping is more likely a reflection of federal, state, and local authorities’ inability to address Mexico’s growing gang threat. In the near future, political discord and posturing could prevent authorities from enacting credible solutions to this problem.