The Thriving Drug Trade: Mexicos Battle Against Narco-Trafficking

Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course: Date: The History of Drug Trafficking and Law Enforcement in Mexico The cultivation, production, and trafficking of drugs is one of the major crime issues affecting Mexico. Additionally, the resulting war against drugs and trafficking organizations has led to the loss of lives and a significant amount of expenditure by the government of Mexico. Other countries led by the United States have contributed to the war since the drugs lead to addiction, deaths, and violence outside Mexico (Avilés 89). By controlling over 90% of the cocaine sold to the United States, Mexican drug cartels have caught the attention of the government of Mexico and those of other nations affected by the drug trade. The political implications of the drug trade include an increase in the role that the politicians and other powerful people have in the drug trade. Investigations into the trafficking organizations have shown the active involvement of people in power and others in leadership positions at these organizations (Hartmeier 16). The current strategies used by the Mexican government and other organizations are yet to significantly reduce the drug problems in Mexico. It is critical to mobilize social, economic, and political resources available for the government to investigate and arrest the individuals involved in the trafficking of drugs in Mexico. Location and Physical Geography Mexico is located in the southernmost part of North America and shares a long border with the United States. It is located at 230 North and 1020 West and borders the United States to the north from West to the East. Moreover (Hartmeier 19). The country borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Additionally, the nation shares borders with Guatemala and Belize. Mexico shares territorial waters with Cuba and Honduras to the south which places it at the center between the United States and Latin America (Morris 211). As the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world, the nation has a significant social and political impact in the Americas. Consequently, the location of Mexico makes it ideal for the control of most of the drug trafficking taking place in the Americas. The location, proximity to the United States, and long border contributes to the drug problem in Mexico and the effects it has on the local population. Most of the drugs produced in Mexico and trafficked through the country are intended for the American market (Hartmeier 21). The country has a long border with the United States extending through four states including California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona (Appendix). With a length of approximately 1,945 miles, there are numerous opportunities for entry points of drugs crossing the border with the United States. Additionally, Mexico forms a transition route for traffickers moving drugs from other Latin American countries to the United States (Morris 213). Most of the drugs from the region are destined for the United States’ market and the cartels in Mexico are strategically positioned to control the entire drug trade in the Americas. The location of Mexico makes it possible for the drug cartels in the country to profit from the drugs they produce and those getting through the country destined for the United States. In spite of efforts to take control of the major routes used to move the illicit substances, the cartels identify and create new crossing points for the drugs. The drug economy alongside the geography of Mexico makes the country ideal for the cultivation of drugs. In particular, poppy plant is cultivated by farmers on a small-scale capacity who rely on the sale of the drugs for their livelihood. The extensive nature of the land makes it challenging for the government agencies to control the plantation of the drug. There has been a reduction in the cultivation of poppy plant in Mexico over the past half-decade (Pinedo 52). However, a significant portion of the plant available in the market comes from the country even after efforts by the regional governments to control drug cultivation. The majority of the cultivation of illicit drugs is by poor and marginalized indigenous populations in Mexico. Since the populations lack alternative means of livelihood, they mostly rely on the drugs to feed their families and meet their basic needs (Morris 221). The path to the eradication of illicit drugs in Mexico faces barriers associated with the geographical difficulties experienced by law enforcement in the country. Prehistoric and Colonial Drugs The historic development of the drug issues in Mexico can be traced from the late nineteenth century and twentieth century. According to Puyana et al. the late nineteenth century saw an increase in the production and consumption of a wide range of drugs in Mexico, primarily for medical purposes (309). These drugs included opium derivatives, marijuana cigarettes, and cocaine, which were readily available in pharmacies across Mexico. Since these drugs were prescribed by doctors, they were legally produced and distributed across the country. However, the need to control the production and use of drugs was more influenced by global political changes rather than the internal issues in Mexico (Morris 211). From the beginning of the twentieth century, the United States began to implement laws to prevent the production of illegal drugs. With these substances being readily available just across the border, trafficking drugs became a lucrative business that attracted cartels. The differences in the laws on drug production and trafficking across the USA-Mexico border created ideal conditions for the trade to thrive across the border. In the 1920s, the United States government was increasing restrictions on the production and use of drugs in their local market. However, more needed to be done to deal with drugs coming in through the Mexican border. In 1917, the Mexican Congress passed laws controlling the production and movement of drugs into the United States (Puyana et al., 309). Therefore, the initial Mexican drug enforcement laws in Mexico were influenced by external pressure from the United States to prevent the movement of drugs. Consequently, the mounting international pressure has driven the drug laws and enforcement measures put in place in Mexico. Attempts to control drug trafficking acro