...The Drug War: Will It Ever Stop? INTRODUCTION The United States and Mexico share a border that stretches 2,000 miles. The border is a product of the clash of the British and Spanish Empires. It is a place of lawlessness and violence. Drug cartels have used the border to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States for years. The United States market for drugs is a multibillion dollar a year industry. 90% of the illegal drugs that are smuggled into America come through our southern borders. As a nation we consume over 50% of the worlds illegal drugs, which exemplify the problem that America has with drug consumption. The demand for illegal drugs in the US allows drug cartels in Mexico to make billions of dollars by smuggling Marijuana, and Methamphetamines through the US/Mexican Border. Efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US have been unsuccessful. Drug Cartels use various methods in the transportation of their merchandise. Such methods include using underground tunnels, semi trucks, automobiles, and humans to transport these illegal drugs. Only 3 to 8 percent of the drugs that are smuggled from Latin America into the United States is confiscated, which is a very discouraging number. Our border patrol and DEA need to do a better job securing our borders and preventing the flow of such harmful drugs into America. There are a reported 7 cartels that operate in Mexico; the biggest players in the drug trade between Mexico and the US are the Tijuana, Juarez, Sinaloa...
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...United States Drug Policy on Mexico and Colombia Drugs are not new to this Earth. Mankind has grown and consumed drugs for millennia. Marijuana, or more appropriately Cannabis, is indigenous to Central and South Asia, and has been consumed widely since 3000 B.C.E. (ElSohly 8). In more recent times (1938), Albert Hoffman synthesized Lysergic acid diethylamide, more commonly known as LSD, while searching for treatments for psychiatric diseases (Hoffman). Initially, many drugs were used in religious/spiritual functions. In several instances, the strong fibers of the Cannabis plant were used for building, much like jute, and the narcotic aspects of the plants were not even explored (ElSohly 8). However, today, drugs are frequently used recreationally, and as a result are highly profitable commodities. It is common knowledge that across the world, the vast majority of drugs are illegal or are restricted in some way. Almost nightly, proponents for the legalization of drugs, decriminalization of certain drugs, and the continued ban on drugs debate their positions through the media. This debate is a hot button issue that is almost entirely centered upon the views and policies of the world’s largest drug consumer, the United States of America (CIA Factbook). Governments and the media very often focus on drug consumption trends and drug flow into the United States, while largely ignoring Latin American perspectives and impacts on Latin America. Though drug production and drug use are major...
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...War on Drugs in Mexico In Monterrey, Mexico lives Sister Consuela Martinez, a nun, and one of the few people not afraid to speak up against the violence caused by the drug cartels. Fourteen years ago, she came home to find cats on her front porch, all with slit throats, and a little message saying that she would be next. But surprisingly, she is still well and alive today. Most people who speak against the cartels do not live long. When issues are brought to public eye, cartels tend to lose profit. With publicity comes less freedom to conduct business in their own manner, so the cartels cut out the source (LA times). Beheadings and kidnappings are popular, and over the past 5 years over 48,000 people were killed, and roughly 5,000 people disappeared due to drug related incidents (CNN). The Mexican drug cartels have not always been so powerful. Before the 1980’s there was trade of opium and marijuana within Mexico and the U.S., but Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, a former Federal Judicial Police Agent, expanded to Columbia. With new connections to cocaine, he went to the top of the Medellin Cartel (the only cartel in Mexico at the time) ran by Pablo Escobar. In time, they grew in power and size, and Gallardo decided he would split up the cartel all over Mexico, thus forming the new cartels that reside in Mexico (PBS). Now, Mexico is one of the world’s largest suppliers of marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and the net earnings is anywhere from 13 billion to 48 billion a year...
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...(Goodman, 2011) Mexico. Poor wretch. A PUT-UP JOB Barbara Wigman How to write a paper 9/20/13 LECTURER: W.G. GOLDMAN UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES OF ARNHEM AND NIJMEGEN MEXICO. POOR WRETCH. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Part I: Origins of the war ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Part II: Government versus government ................................................................................................................. 3 Part III: A put-up job? .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Part IV: enclosure .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 1 HOW TO WRITE A PAPER. BARBARA WIGMAN MEXICO. POOR WRETCH. INTRODUCTION The war-on-drugs is a widely known phenomena all over the world. When pinpointing the war-on-drugs, Mexico is mostly the first country which comes to mind. Poor wretch, or not? It is no...
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...United States of America and Mexico lies Ciudad Juarez. An infamous border town that is known for a great many reason, not all being pleasant. Juarez, as is called by locals, is right across the town of El Paso, Texas. Being so close to the United States has made Juarez, and the state of Chihuahua, a very popular place for companies to invest money. Unfortunately, it also makes it favorable territory for the drug cartels in the region. The two at war for the city being Sinaloa and Juarez. These two organizations, along with the original shady local government of the town, aided in the blossom of intense violence in the form of femicide, gang killings and very violent and public murders beginning in the early...
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...Mexico’s Drug War Drug trafficking has become an increasingly growing problem in the world today. Illegal drug trade is a worldwide black market consisting of production, distribution, packaging, and sale of illegal substances. Although today’s "War on Drugs" is a modern phenomenon, drug problems have been a common problem throughout history. The market for illegal drugs is massive, when we consider the estimated global drug trade value is worth $321 billion (Vulliamy). The most drug trafficking happens on the border between Mexico and the United States. Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon said, “Our neighbor is the largest consumer of drugs in the world. And everybody wants to sell him drugs through our door and our window” (Catholic Online). Mexico is the main foreign supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamine to the United States. Mexico is responsible for 90% of drugs that comes from the southern border of the United States. Mexico has been a producer and distributer of illegal drugs for generations; the country now finds itself in a battle with powerful and well-financed drug cartels. The corruption in the Mexico, the trafficking of weapons and the violence has made it possible for cartels to keep operating. Since 2006, when president Calderon declared the war on drug cartels, violence in Mexico has increased dramatically. The country has certainly seen a big rise in drug violence, with cartels fighting for control of major shipment routes. Mexican...
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...Kendall Beddell Per.4 2/28/13 English 12 CP Mexico’s Long Drug War! The Mexican drug war has been an ongoing problem for citizens all throughout Mexico. Violence along the border has risen dramatically towards military and civilian’s deaths rates are sky rocketing. Although Mexico has been a producer and transit route for illegal drugs for generations, the country now finds itself in a pitched battle with powerful and well-financed cartels. The Mexican drug war has largely been defined by violence along the border is intensifying in interior and southern areas of the carnage, broadening to analysts and new government data. Mexico has been fighting a long war against drugs .Street gangs with cartel ties are not only in Los Angeles and Dallas, but also in many smaller cities across the united and much farther north of the Mexican border. Mexican cartels had a presence in 230 cities in the United States in 2008, according to the U.S. justice department. Its 2011 report shows that presence has grown to more than 1,000 U.S. cities. While the violence has remained mostly in Mexico, authorities in Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Alabama and other states have report investigated abductions and killings suspected to be tied to cartel. Mexican drug cartels operating in cities in the U.S. are buying up legitimate businesses to launder money. “The Tijuana-based Felix drug cartel and the Juarez-based Fuentes cartel began buying legitimate business in small towns in Los Angeles County...
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...The Global drug trade has a value of more than 400 billion, and Mexican cartels take 30 to 40 billion. Big profits give cartels significant influence on both sides of the border. 23 million Americans use drugs on a monthly basis, and about half of all high school students have used illegal drugs.Mexican cartels are buying their products directly from cocaine producing locations. They are willing to go long distances to acquire raw material for the production of methamphetamine. Mexican cartel members have illicit drugs in Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, and Brazil. They have even been caught in Malaysia. Three Mexicans were arrested in Malaysia in 2008, after being found with 60 pounds of meth. Mexican cartels are looking for new markets to...
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...Political Risks Worsening Drug Related Violence There is constant fighting among the Mexico’s various drug cartels to establish supremacy, which has led to an increase in the number of murders over the last few years. The cartels have attacked the government and each other, demonstrating vicious acts of violence such as hanging victims from bridges, dumping bodies in piles and displaying severed heads on stakes (Trotta & Hughes, 2012). These displays generally seek to establish pre-eminence in their area of operation and influence. Drug related violence has spread from cities along the U.S. border to Monterrey and various other regions around the country. Gunmen have increased attacks on public officials and armored car sales are spiraling. Many cartels are cross-border criminal organizations also involved in kidnapping, extortion, cargo robbery, smuggling, and piracy (Marketline, 2012). Moreover, drug trafficking and other criminal activities launder billions of dollars into the Mexican economy through a fine network of bankers and business figures. With many cartels branching into other crimes, the problem has compounded, expanding into US territory. For instance, North Carolina-based Wachovia Wells Fargo Bank recently had to pay USD160 million to settle federal investigations on allegations of laundering Mexican drug money (Marketline, 2012). Table 1 Mexican Drug Cartels Main Areas of Influence, 2010-2011 Source: Nieto, 2012 Mexico’s Industrial Chambers Federation informed...
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...The Mexican Drug War: Is It Their War or Ours? A common news headline in any newspaper or on any news channel these days mentions the “Mexican drug war”. It has become common along the U. S./Mexico border to hear people talking about it at schools, work places and in their own neighborhoods - coworkers, classmates and neighbors whom are involved in some way or know someone that is. Violence is seen and heard of on the U.S. side of the border quite frequently, which raises the questions, is it their war or ours? This war may have started on Mexican soil; however, it is, most definitely, the United States’ war as well. How did this all begin? What does the U.S. have to do with it? “For years, Mexico’s domestic supply of psychoactive...
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...Organized Crime and Drug Trade Organized crime and the illicit drug trade is a fairly recent ordeal occurring throughout the world, both strongly linked with drug trafficking. Organized crime refers to the unlawful activities of the members of a highly organized, disciplined association engaged in supplying illegal goods and services, including gambling, prostitution, loan- sharking, narcotics, and labor racketeering (Schmalleger, 2011, pg.234). Drug trafficking, which is a type of organized crime, consists of manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, importing, and exporting (or possessing with intent to do the same) a controlled or counterfeit substance (Schmalleger, 2011). These two come hand in hand because the powerful people/ organizations from different parts of the world are the ones who control the illicit drug trade industry. Without the drug traffickers the industry would consist of suppliers who would have no way to deliver their product to the consumer. It is estimated that the illegal drug trade generates up to 500 billion dollars a year, making it the second most lucrative industry after the arms industry (Jenner, 2011). The reason drug trafficking occurs can be due to the high consumption of illicit drugs throughout the world which in turn fuels this business. Like any other industry, there will always be organizations that control it. For example in the automotive industry in the U.S., “the big three” – GM, Chrysler, and Ford are the ones who dominate it, although...
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...Name: Class: Teacher: Topic: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Drug Abuse. Physiological Effects * Physiological effects of drug abuse vary by the type of drug. Stimulants, such as amphetamines, can delay sleep and elevate a person's mood, but high amounts can cause nervousness and anxiety in the user. Depressants, by contrast, impair mental and physical functions, and slow neural activity in the brain. With some drugs, especially narcotics such as opium or heroin, the body can build a tolerance in which it adjusts to the drug's presence. Over time, the body requires higher doses to maintain the same effect. When an abuser stops taking the drug, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling weak or sick. Withdrawal symptoms are the body's reaction to the absence of the drug to which it had become adjusted. Social Effects * The social effects of drug abuse begin with abusers and their families. Substance abuse has been a factor in divorce, family violence and related problems. The social effects extend into the larger society, as well, such as through crimes committed by drug abusers to get money needed to feed drug habits. Further, the lucrative nature of drug trafficking fuels crime as rival drug gangs fight for control of the traffic. The U.S. government, for example, noted increased drug-related violence on the U.S.-Mexico border and cited drug gangs in these areas as the nation's leading organized crime threat Economic Effects * Reports...
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...Mexico’s drug war is a non-stop battle for the citizens of Mexico, the traffickers and suppliers of the drugs for many years. Many rival cartel gangs are in constant competition for different regions of Mexico, which escalates the violence and triumph to an even higher level. The Mexican government and civilians have all been a part of this ongoing drug war, which continues to this day. The government’s goal behind the drug war has always been to put a stop to any drug related violence that carried over from the war for years, more specifically since 2006 when the Mexican military intervention was started. Stripping the drug cartels of their power and control has also been one of the main goals of the Mexican government rather than preventing...
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...Financial Economic development in Latin America 2/11/2013 Drugs cartels in Mexico are hurting the economy of the country bringing down tourism as a big financial factor for Mexican economy. In 2006 president Felipe Calderon began military actions against cartels and since then in 2012 47,515 people were reported killed in drug related violence. (Gonzalez) With that kind of statistics people do not want to visit Mexico. Such a beautiful country with a lot of history is occupied with corruption, poverty, red tape and monopolies (Maung ). In 2007 avarage of nine or ten people killed each day and in 2012 the number grew to 51 people per day. Economy is growing at impressive rate at the moment but the cartels are slowing Mexican economy down. War between the military and powerful criminal cartels cost a lot of money to the government. Poverty is a big problem in Mexico that the war against cartels making worst by demolishing cities and killing what not innocent people (Maung). Mexicans War is more than a war it is a humanitarian crisis affecting cities, streets families and up growing children. The percent of federal crimes made by women rose to 400% since 2007 (Schwartz). Obviously the new tactic to go to war with cartels hurt Mexican stability of living. Corruption made it unbearable for people to live. Too many cops close their eyes on drug trafficking or a murder because of the drug issues. Corruption buys police, fear does everything else. Economy is hurt...
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...According to the textbook, most of the violence in northern Mexico is a consequence of the U.S. demand for illegal drugs, not the smuggling of illegal migrants (Alden, 2008). Mexico is a major producer and supplier to the U.S. market of heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and the major transit country for more than 90% of the cocaine sold in the United States. Mexico has pursued an aggressive anticrime strategy and increased security cooperation with the United States. These efforts have helped Mexico arrest or kill record numbers of drug kingpins, but more than 55,000 people have died as a result of organized crime-related violence since December 2006. The United States has also made significant efforts in the fight against drug trafficking. In 2011, the New York Times reported that the United States began sending unarmed drones to collect intelligence on traffickers. It also reported that the United States had expanded its role in cross-border raids, sending CIA operatives and retired military personnel to a Mexican military base, while training federal agents to assist in wiretaps, interrogations, and running informants. The United States has also improved security on its own side of the border, spending approximately $3 billion annually on patrolling the border. (CFR, 2013). For years, drug trafficking organizations have used the Mexico's political system to create "a system-wide network of corruption that guaranteed distribution rights, market access, and...
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