The Thriving Drug Trade: Mexicos Battle Against Narco-Trafficking

Abstract

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 [City, State], 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 across the country has influenced the laws created in the local market to prevent the use of drugs. In spite of the measures taken by the government to control drug trafficking, the market in the United States was thriving and promoting production. In particular, various states such as Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Sonora had already established themselves in opium production (Puyana et al. 311). They continued to flourish in spite of the strategies used by the government to control the trade. Moreover, the movement of drugs across the border was fueled by the cooperation between cartels in the drug trafficking business. For instance, the 1980s and 1990s saw an increase in the measures taken by the American and Mexican governments to prevent the movement of drugs across the border (Hartmeier 16). Under President Nixon, the American government had increased the physical inspection of vehicles moving across the border to stop drug traffickers. Additionally, the Mexican military had successfully raided the cartels and destroyed drugs belonging to the traffickers in Mexico. This move did not derail trafficking since the cartels began working with traffickers in Colombia to outsource drugs intended for the United States market. The resourcefulness of the cartels involved in drug trafficking made it challenging for various laws in Mexico and the United States to stop the trade. The more ideal strategy to deal with drugs in Mexico has been viewed as cooperation between the governments involved. When the United States took the drug war to Mexico, there were major successes that led to the arrest and incarceration of cartel members. However, the declining influence of the Colombian cartels in the global drug trade provided the Mexican cartels with full control of the American market (Hartmeier 16). The arrest of major cartel leaders has led to other cartels taking control of the drug production and trafficking in the country. Regardless of the apparent successes in war against drugs with joint forces from the international scope, the violence and crimes associated with these drugs has continued in the 21st century. Major cartels as well as smaller organizations of illicit drug producers and traffickers have persisted in Mexico and currently supply over 90% of the cocaine entering the United States. The production, distribution, consumption, and sale of illicit drugs in Mexico remains to be one of most urgent crimes affecting the country. Current Drug Production and Trade One of the most critical effects of drug consumption and production in a country is the rise in cases of addictions. Since most of the drugs produced in Mexico are destined for the international markets, the prevalence and use are quite low compared to the countries where the drugs are sold, particularly the United States. The related cases of drug use and addiction in Mexico is far less than that of the United States, being less than one tenth across all age groups. Since the consumption and prevalence of drug use are quite low in Mexico, it is critical to consider other implications of these substances (Puyana et al. 311). In particular, the production of drugs in Mexico has empowered major cartels and their leaders to take over illegitimate businesses in the country. The inability of the law enforcement to effectively deal with the problem of drug trafficking is a major challenge for the country’s economic and social welfare. Additionally, the drug issue has influenced the country’s political landscape and impacted on the laws created to combat the problem. There has been an increase in the amount of resources spent by the government to facilitate the war against drugs in the country. Moreover, drug related crimes have increased in the country in spite of measures to prevent the production and sale of drugs. Crimes committed by individuals involved in the sale of drugs have been a major social and pollical problem in Mexico since the introduction of drug laws. According to Puyana et al., found that in the four years prior to their study, over 28,000 people had been killed in drug related crimes (312). Additionally, the study noted that about 9 of 10 people killed in Mexico are either individuals associated with drug trafficking or law enforcement officers killed in the war against drugs. Measures to prevent drug trafficking have involved an increase in the allocation of resources to the war against these substances. However, the crime rates associated with drug trafficking have continued to rise in spite of measures to prevent this trade and protect the civilian population. The rising influence of individuals in the trade has made it harder for the government to control corruption in the war against illicit substances in the country. The traditional assessment of the issue of drugs in Mexico has focused on violent gangs as the perpetrators of violence and the United States as a supportive ally to the efforts of law enforcement in the country. However, it is critical to consider the issue from an alternative viewpoint examining how the hegemony of the United States in the drug war escalates the situation (Avilés 19). The rising consumption of illegal substances in the United States provides the market and the motivation that escalates drug production in Mexico. Additionally, the cartels fighting for control over the trade are responsible for creating the violence and chaos that leads to deaths in Mexico. Drug production and distribution in Mexico is a critical challenge for the country as well as for the population destined as the consumer of the illicit substances. Even with the measures taken to combat the trade within Mexico through the cooperation of multi-state agencies, the cartels are motivated to continue with the production. There are over 2.6 million American users of cocaine and about a million users of crack in the United States (Avilés 63). The current laws have focused on providing resources to the law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against the production of drugs and trafficking across the border. More needs to be done to control the availability of the market for the drugs produced in Mexico most of which is sold in the United States. Mexico remains to be a substantial player in the international drug trafficking and production sector. Its role in the production of drugs and a transit nation for drugs coming from Central and South America has significant implications on the sector. Additionally, the movement of drugs from the country has contributed to the incomes of more than half a million people and about 2% of the country’s GDP (Avilés 91). In addition to the large drug trafficking organizations and cartel members, other Mexicans earn a substantial amount of their income from drug trade. The role that drugs have on the lives of the Mexican families and the extent of violence exerted by cartels makes it challenging for the government to control drug trafficking. Additionally, the general population is unwilling to assist the law enforcement in dealing with drug trafficking for the fear of being victims of cartel murders. Drug production and trafficking remains to be one of the most significant social and economic challenges affecting Mexico and its citizen population. Drug-Related Political Issues Corruption cases involving cartels and federal law enforcement officers is a critical pollical concern in fighting drug production in Mexico. In spite of measures to protect the civilians from crimes associated with drug trafficking, most of the officers involved in fighting crimes are caught up in corruption cases (Flores-Macías 18). Therefore, the credibility of the arrests made targeting powerful drug cartels are compromised by the actions of federal enforcement officers. Over the years, the government has taken measures to deal with corruption cases among the federal law enforcement officers. Therefore, the inability of the government to develop measures to deal with corruption among law enforcement officers has been a critical barrier to addressing cases of drug trafficking (Avilés 92). Consecutive governments have promised to develop more effective solutions to deal with corruption associated with drug trafficking. In spite of a series of restructuring, the appointed officials are usually implicated in the cases of corruption with cartel members. The failure of political leaders and administrators in law enforcement to end corruption in war against drug trafficking has led to lack of trust among the members of the public. The criminalization of illicit drugs has led to the creation of laws to prevent crimes associated with these substances in Mexico and globally. While the laws and enforcement measures are as strict in Mexico as with other countries, the implementation measures fail to effectively prevent these crimes. The government has made changes to allocate sufficient resources to the war against drugs in Mexico. However, the individuals and groups involved in drug trafficking in the country are organized and control a vast range of resources. The cultural and socioeconomic factors in the country have attracted cartels with access to resources globally to produce and traffic drugs out of Mexico (Flores-Macías 11). While there have been measures to impose heavy criminal penalties on individuals involved in drug trafficking,...