Drug cartels have become an issue of grave concern in Mexican society and the U.S as well. The two countries share a two-thousand-mile border, have close cultural, and demographic ties, which makes Mexico’s stability vital to the US. According to Beittel (2013), t \he presence of numerous drug cartels has led to the prevalence of various forms of crime such as increased assassinations of media personnel, for instance, the brutal killing of twelve Mexican journalists in 2017, and the murder of seven others six months later. The rise in the cases of beheadings, car explosions, and the public hanging of corpses also demonstrates the impacts of drug-trafficking violence in the country. Over the past four years, the number of homicides has augmented by 7% ( Beittel,2013 ) and drug traffickers have gained significant territorial influence in various areas of the country and especially along drug-smuggling routes and production centers. Furthermore, the collaboration between the members of these cartels, Mexican military, and the local police have made any efforts to combat the issue futile. Mexican drug cartels pose a significant social, economic, and political threat, which makes it imperative for the government to develop effective strategies to suppress the influence of cartels in and out of the Mexican borders.
Dominant Drug Cartels in Mexico
The drug wars in Mexico are defined by the various cartels that exist in the country. It is necessary that any discussion of these wars considers the significant cartels that have been recognized as the biggest challenge in the country. Research has however shown that the drug cartels are in a state of renewal where members of one cartel may likely break off to start other cartels especially when rifts emerge within major cartels ( Womer & Bunker, 2010 ). This scenario has led to the emergence of different cartels and one major element to note is the increasing degree of violence that each cartel operates with. Every cartel seeks to assert a form of authority that is always defined by increased violence that is meted on people considered less friendly to the cartels and friendlier to the law authorities ( Espinal-Enríquez and Larralde, 2015 ). This modus operandi defines the cartels in their process of establishing their firm control of the drugs trades routes in the country.
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Sinaloa Cartel
One of the significant cartels that have defined the drug wars in the country is the Sinaloa cartel. The cartel was headed by Guzman, who was known by the name ‘El Chapo,” and this cartel was founded in the 1980s ( Guevara, 2013 ). Guzman remains one of the most prolific and violent drug lords who ran the cartel with an iron fist. The Sinaloa cartel was recognized for being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in the country. It is essential to acknowledge the role that the cartel played in determining the continuity of the drug wars and trafficking in Mexico ( Burnett et al., 2010) . The main products from the cartel included illicit narcotics and the cartel mainly operated from the North West regions of Mexico. The area of operation has always been identified as the “Golden Triangle,’ which covers Sinaloa, Durango, and Chihuahua areas ( Felbab-Brown, 2016 ). The influence of this group is defined by the abrasive acts of violence that the group has always operated within its efforts to expand its territories in Mexico.
The influence of the Sinaloa Cartel is also influenced by the operation structure that the group has adopted over the years. The group is subdivided into smaller groups all who report to the central leader. While it has been argued that the group could be dying, there is a possibility that the reincarnation of the subgroups highlights the resurgence of the cartel. The first evidence of its ability to deploy violence and boldness was realized in the killing of drug enforcement agency agent Enrique Camarena in 1985 ( Felbab-Brown, 2016 ). This was among the first acts that fuelled the fear of the Sinaloa cartel in the Mexican regions. The group faced increased pressure from the authorities after the killing of the DEA agent as the Americans increased pressure on the Mexican authorities to expedite the handling of the Sinaloa Cartel ( Chi et al., 2013 ). The effect of the increased pressure led to the formation of breakaway groups which have continued with the illicit trades in the country and in other areas. For instance, the Fuentes family started operating from Juarez, which is one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico ( Felbab-Brown, 2016 ). Others like Salazar remained in Sinaloa which they considered as the home of the group.
One of the essential elements of the Sinaloa cartel is the leadership structure that the group maintained over the years. According to Espinal-Enríquez and Larralde (2015 ) the operations of the cartel were controlled by three main individuals; Guzman, El Azul, and El Mayo, who each ran their factions of the larger groups . The factions were kept in check by these leaders who had immense power and control over the operations of the group. However, the arrest of El Chapo has always been considered the beginning of the fall of the group following the struggle for control that was witnessed among the leaders of the cartel.
A most common strategy that is used by cartels in Mexico is the infiltration of the government agencies. The Sinaloa Cartel had its informers established as members of some of the government agencies, and Chi et al. (2013) discuss the possibility that some of these people were in positions of power. Therefore, it was easier for the Sinaloa cartel to fight its enemies while using their agents employed by the government, especially in the security forces. Further, their people in the government security forces also helped in protecting their trade routes, and as such, their products were transported throughout the country. It is crucial to consider the spread of the operations of the Sinaloa cartel based on the relationships that the group had with the security forces.
The Juarez cartel
The Juarez cartel is also among the cartels that have defined the drug trafficking business in Mexico. The focus on this cartel results from the increased smuggling of drugs from Mexico into the United States of America ( Cooper, 2017 ). It is alleged that the cartel has smuggled tons of drugs into the US through various trade routes which it controls along the border. The control of the drug trafficking routes remains one of the significant causes of conflict among the various cartels. Having existed since the 1970s, the Juarez cartel lays claim to different drug trafficking routes which have been integral in defining the success of the cartel in the transportation of drugs across the border ( Rodriguez, 2016 ). It is vital to explore the potential ramifications of the drug routes, especially in terms of the strategies that are often used to protect them from other cartels in the country.
The Juarez cartel was initially led by Pablo Costa Villareal before his death in 1987 at the hands of the Mexican police. The leadership was taken over by Rafael Aguillar who later passed it on to Aguilar Guajardo, then to Amado Carillo whose death led to the emergence of infighting and turf wars within the cartel ( Rodriguez, 2016 ). The death led to the struggle for power before the established of Vicente as the supreme leader of the cartel. While the leadership of the cartel has transformed over the years, the strategies used by the cartel have not changed, and it is recognized as one of the most ruthless gangs in the region. The use of violence cuts across all the cartels as the primary approach to the assertion of control and dominance in the areas that are supposedly owned by the various groups.
The Juarez cartel has managed to define its bases of operations over the years. The group operates both in the United States and in Mexico. The area in Mexico provides the sources of the drugs that are then sent to the bases in America such as Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona ( Rodriguez, 2016 ). The main area of operation in Mexico is Chihuahua, although reports suggest that the activities of the cartel have spread to other parts of Mexico as well.
The creation and emergence of factions of the Juarez cartel have seen the formation of various alliances. Espinal-Enríquez and Larralde (2015 ) argue that each faction has established itself in proximity to other dominant groups such as Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, and Tijuana Cartel. The desire to survive is one of the significant elements that drive the formation of alliances among the cartels. It is necessary that the cartel protects itself through its partnerships with other cartels, and this has been a strategy in maintaining given trade routes in the Mexican region and across the border with the United States.
While there have been allegations of the disintegration of the Juarez Cartel, it is possible that the cartel still operates in major cities across the American-Mexican region. The operations of the cartel have been visible in about 21 states in Mexico ( Rodriguez, 2016 ). This has led to the narrative that the cartel has domiciled its operations although there is evidence of its continued presence in America as well. One of the strategies that have been widely used by the Juarez cartel is the blackmail and corruption of law enforcement officers ( Pérez, 2014 ). The goals of the cartel are to stay informed and also have the protection of the corrupt members of the police force. This helps in the protection of their trade routes and also protection from the other cartels. The drug trafficking business remains one of the significant issues that the government seeks to eradicate, and as such, increased government efforts have been directed towards handling the various cartels. Increased police presence in cartel regions has created apprehension among the cartels, and the Juarez cartel has always sought to stay ahead of the police through bribery and blackmail of officers.
The Gulf Cartel
This is one of the cartels that has always been in competition with the Sinaloa cartel. The Gulf Cartel is also recognized by the name Tamaulipas which defines its main base of operations in Mexico. The emergence of the cartel in the 1990s was influenced by its approach to the other cartels, where it relied on mercenary enforcement armies in carrying out its attack on perceived enemies ( Pérez, 2014 ). The known leaders of the Gulf Cartel include Tony Tomenta, Eduardo Jorge Costilla and Osiel Cardenas Guillen. HoweverOsiel was later arrested and extradited to the United States ( Flanigan, 2014 ). The influence of the cartel was inherent in its strategies, which included widespread violence that was used as a means of warding off other cartels from its perceived areas of operations. For instance, In January 2019, about 21 bodies were found in a place dominated by the Gulf Cartel ( Bonner, 2012 ). One of the significant threats that are posed by these cartels is the hidden graves that are used to protect the dead bodies. Even the January death toll could be higher were all graves to be found.
The Gulf Cartel has been recognized as a significant syndicate that traffics drugs in Mexico, and it is one of the major groups that has defined the crime levels in the country. One of the strategies that have seen the continuity of the cartel has been the perceived links with other drug families outside the Mexican region ( Bonner, 2012 ). The international connection remains of the main elements that have been integral in the development of the Gulf Cartel hence the struggle that the law enforcement agencies in containing the operations of the cartel. The cartel started off as an alcohol smuggling group in the period that alcohol smuggling into the US was prohibited before it got into other illicit drugs. The connections that the Gulf Cartel has created cut across the continents, including West Africa, Asia, Central America, and even parts of Europe ( Flanigan, 2014 ). It is essential to recognize that the operations of the Gulf Cartel have always been defined by extreme violence, which is often used to scare away competitors.
The main challenge that has affected the operations of the cartel is the infighting among the top leadership. Disagreements in terms of approaches to the drug trade and the struggle for control of the cartel have been cited among the main reasons for the conflicts between the leaders of the cartel. Pérez (2014) discusses that these infightings have given room for the security forces to apprehend some of the top leaders of the Gulf Cartel and as such, these arrests have been successful in limiting the operations of the cartel.
The Effects of Mexican Drug Cartels
Social Effects
One of the intrinsic characteristics of drug cartels is violence. It is the core strategy through which these groups assert their power and dominance ( Beittel, 2013 ). While ordinary people resolve their conflicts by talking and reaching a consensus that is in the best interests of those involved, drug smugglers use violence to achieve this goal. Furthermore, the leaders of these cartels gain significant respect from their subordinates, suppliers, buyers, and creditors through intimidation, threats, and physical abuse. Croft (2015 ) contends that the power and influence that Drug cartels have is determined by the level of ruthlessness that it demonstrates. For instance, the New Jalisco Cartel dominated the drug trafficking business after killing off all its perceived enemies. The dead bodies were mutilated and hung on public places, as a warning to other drug smugglers in the locality.
Violence has elevated feelings of insecurity, as well as stress and anxiety. Violence is the primary strategy through which these gangs punish those who are reluctant to cooperate such as political candidates who threaten the existence of cartels, police officers who have made it their mission to bring them down, and citizens who report the cartel's activities to the authorities (Chi et al., 2010). The city of Juarez is regarded as one of the most dangerous places in Mexico (Jones, 2014). Police informants are often strung on rooftops, or sometimes, brutally murdered, and their bodies hug on public areas to instill fear in those who intend to snitch. In the year 2007, for instance, which was during the reign of Calderon, two thousand, two hundred and seventy-five individuals were executed by Narco ( Lantz, 2016 ). The numbers increased dramatically, and a total of eleven thousand, five hundred and eighty-three individuals were massacred in 2010 by the same group. Activities such as these have both physical and psychological impacts on Mexicans Bonner (2012). Children who are exposed to such hostile environments develop various mental disorders such as PTSD or social disorders which inhibits them from interacting and functioning effectively with others in society. In other cases, some of them embrace the notion that violence is the primary way through which one can accomplish his/her desire, and they become inclined to join these groups. Violence inhibits peace and harmonious living among Mexicans.
The other social impact of the cartels is the prevalence of drug abuse among the youth in the US-Mexico border. Irrefutably, substance abuse has increased the levels of delinquency among the younger generation in this region. Aside from this, it has augmented their propensity to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving when their judgment is impaired and engaging in unprotected sex, among others. The significant impact of this has been a reduction in the quality of life among the young, and a decline in academic performance. Teenage pregnancy has forced young ladies to drop out of school and engage in drug smuggling since they cannot secure well-paying jobs without a strong educational background. Additionally, those who dodge pregnancy suffer different sexually transmitted diseases, HI/AIDS included, decreasing the quality of teenage life.
Mexican drug cartels have affected children greatly. Today, children are the leading drug distributors since they are less suspicious than adults, and their chances of being caught are fewer (Jones, 2014). Most of those who are exposed to these substances end up using and getting addicted, inhibiting them from contributing meaningfully to society (Beittel, 2013). Students who are under the influence of drug abuse are unable to attend school consistently or even pay attention to what their instructors say in class. In addition, they have no time to study, leading to poor academic performances. According to Puyana et al. (2017), approximately 7.5% of patients in the emergency departments of Mexican hospitals are admitted due to the effects of illicit drug use. In detail, 66% of the patients are reported to have used cocaine and marijuana. Puyana et al. (2017) further claim that twenty-eight thousand of the total murders in Mexico have been due to drug-related violence. Specifically, five thousand eight hundred and seventy-four murders occurred between January and September 2009, a five percent increase from the preceding year.
Drug trafficking has significantly affected education. Education plays a pivotal role in society. It is through it that respectable and skilled individuals who can contribute meaningfully to society are developed (Basu & Pearlman, 2017). Cartel membership is one of the primary issues facing students in the community. Youngster re either recruited into the gangs either as drug peddlers or as the foot soldiers (Brown & Velásquez, 2017). Their core responsibility is to distribute drugs to different places and to various suppliers. The fact that the police are less likely to suspect young children for distributing drugs makes them preferable. Cartel membership among school going children has undeniably led to an increase in the numbers of students who have dropped out of school, denying the country skilled labor force.
Drug wars have often occurred around school areas. It has become necessary for such institutions to be closed in areas where drug-related violence is most prevalent (Brown & Velásquez, 2017). Drug cartels pose a significant danger to students, and many parents prefer their children to stay at home since the school environment is not safe (Basu & Pearlman, 2017). The drugs that are produced and distributed by the cartels has also led to the addition of school going children in society. Mexican drug cartels have therefore denied children one of their most basic needs, which is access to education. It is imperative for the government to devise strategies to increase security in areas surrounding medical institutions, to promote future generations from harm.
Forced disappearances, which mostly lead to the disintegration of families, is another significant impact Mexican-drug cartel. In the year 2010, the Mexican police failed to recover the body of Nazario Gonzalez, the head of the Knights Templar, who had been pronounced dead. The incidence was quite suspicious, and rumors that he was alive prevailed until it was confirmed that he was not dead in 2014, only to be killed in a shutout by security forces. It has become increasingly difficult for the local police to come up with a specific number of those who are missing due to underreporting. The bodies of those who disappear turn up later in mass graves such as in the case of the forty-three pupils in Iguala, Guerrero, whose remains were recovered from unmarked mass graves. Forced disappearances have led to increased stress and tension in Mexican society, as family members try to find their loved ones.
Drug-trafficking violence has also threatened the stability of the family unit. It has become almost compulsory for people living in given cartel-controlled areas to join these organizations. The family unit is one of the major social institutions in society. It is essential to recognize that all cartel-related activities directly or indirectly affect families. Violence often results in the loss of any lives in the nation. For instance, the recent killing of fifteen police officers by the New Jalisco cartel led to the loss of family members who contributed significantly to their families (Beittel, 2013). In addition, the fight between the Sinaloa cartel and the Juarez cartel led to the death of thousands of people (Bunker & Sullivan, 2010), leaving children without parents and wives and husbands without their partners. The disintegration of the family unit is detrimental to society. In detail, it is the family that instills in the young sound morals. When parents do not play the role, they are supposed in nurturing their children; the latter fails to contribute in a meaningful way to the community.
Broken families are the primary outcome of membership into these cartels. Most of these groups consist of higher numbers of men, who also play the role of husbands and fathers to their families. Due to the demands of the job, these individuals spend less time with their families since they are mostly running drug-related errands. Often, the extended time spent working disintegrates the bonds that exist between husbands and their wives, leading to increased divorce cases Jones (2014). This is the reason why most cartel members remain single since few relationships can put up with the pressures of the job. The numbers of women who venture into drug-related businesses have risen significantly. The prevalence of single-parenthood has forced women to engage in dangerous activities such as drug smuggling so that they can provide for their children. One of the significant effects of this is the rapid decline in children’s academic performances due to decreased academic supervision, as well as increased teenage pregnancies, and drug abuse among the younger generation.
Economic Impacts
Drug industries are one of the most dominant sectors in Mexico. It is not only profitable but also diverse and specializes mostly in the production and distribution of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Mexican-drug cartels supply approximately seventy percent of cocaine, thirty percent of heroin, and eighty percent of marijuana in the United States ( Morales, Prieto, & Bejarano, 2014 ). While the cartels have negatively affected the Mexican society socially, they have been quite beneficial to the economy. The drug trafficking industry gains nine hundred and ninety-one million dollars annually. Generally, it generates most of the country’s revenue and is therefore regarded as one of the most vital industries in Mexico. Aside from this, it has created vast employment opportunities for individuals regardless of whether they have strong educational backgrounds or not. Irrefutably, employment is the primary positive outcome of drug trafficking in Mexico. Approximately three hundred thousand peasants have been employed to work in the agricultural sector to deal with drug production. It is, therefore, justifiable to say that drug cartels have enabled individuals to cross the poverty line, improving the overall living standards of the citizens.
The development of new technological advancements has led to the growth and success of the drug industry, contributing greatly to the economy. The New Jalisco Generation cartel has demonstrated the usefulness of technology in making drug production and distribution more efficient and effective. Technology provides the cartels with an effective means of communication, which is crucial for product distribution, as well as dodging the police ( Cooper, 2017 ). The New Jalisco Cartel has managed to recruit various young people who have important technical skills which ensure that the business adjusts to the changes in the technological environment ( Croft, 2015). Aside from this, new innovations in technology have led to the development of new generation drugs such as meth, which are not only cheap to produce but also profitable. The industry is anticipated to generate a lot of revenue in the next few years as a result of the new drugs which are considered more potent than bhang, marijuana, cocaine, or even heroin ( Cooper, 2017 ). Technology has not only enabled drug cartels to dodge police attacks and the loss of millions worth of drugs, but diversify their products, and increase the demand for different drugs in local and overseas markets.
However, drug-trafficking violence negatively affects the economy. The country incurs both direct, and indirect financial loses as a result of this. Death and injury, for instance, lead to the loss of significant manpower, decreasing productivity in different sectors. Additionally, the Mexican government is forced to use vast amounts of capital catering to the medical care of the injured. Violence has also promoted migration, leaving several ghost towns in the country. According to Morales, Prieto, and Bejarano (2014), t hree hundred and sixty thousand inhabitants, for instance, have migrated from Tamaulipas to other places due to extortion from traffickers. In the last six years, several businessmen have relocated their businesses, a situation which is quite detrimental to the Mexican economy. Drug trafficking violence has inhibited many transnational companies from investing in Mexico, slowing the rate at which the economy grows.
The frequent drug-trafficking violence has significantly affected Mexico’s economy. Violence has made it extremely impossible for businesses to thrive in the region (Jones, 2014). The fear that cartels have instilled in the Mexican society deter people from investing in Mexican markets. Instead, they invest in the US or relocate their businesses there. For example, instance, when the Knights Templar cartel imposed a protection fee to all the local businesses, several businesses closed in the Sinaloa region (Bonner, 2012). Violence has rid Mexico of several profitable companies which contributed significantly to the growth of the economy.
The Mexican economy depends on the profits made by local industries to increase its national gross domestic product (Bel & Holst, 2018). Likewise, the development of each sector is contingent on the availability of skilled and adequate labor force. As a result, when people feel threatened and perceive the business environment as too hostile, they withdraw from working, decreasing production and profits, which adversely affect the economy. Recent studies indicate that areas along drug-trafficking routes loose approximately 51% of earnings since the numbers of individuals are willing and able to work have reduced by 17% (Bel & Holst, 2018). Drug cartels have, therefore led to a decline in labor. Furthermore, reports also suggest that places such as Chihuahua, Sonora, and Oaxaca, have the highest rates of cartel violence and its related homicides (Bonner, 2012). The previous arguments indicate that drug cartels are more detrimental as opposed to beneficial, to the Mexican economy.
Finally, the widespread drug-trafficking violence in the Mexican region has discouraged tourism, which is another critical source of the country’s revenue. Every tourist needs the assurance that they will be safe during their visits to different places. The Mexican environment fails to guarantee this since many gun battles occur between cartels, as well as the members of these organizations and the law enforcers, a risk which most foreigners are not ready to take. The failure of the police to apprehend those involved in the drug cartels as well as the collaboration between the police and drug smugglers have made any efforts to decrease violence futile. Consequently, the numbers of foreigners who visit the country have depreciated dramatically over the past five years. Mexico currently experiences rather sluggish economic growth as a result.
Political Impacts
Propaganda is one of the main political effects of Mexican-drug cartels. It is through it that individuals manipulate others and acquire the power to modify beliefs, behavior, and values. According to Guevara (2013), cartel propaganda not only puts the security at jeopardy but that of the United States as well. The purpose of propaganda is to develop narratives regarding the nature and mission of the cartel ( Phillips & Ríos, 2019 ). For instance, the Knights Templar cartel introduced itself as a religious organization that was out to protect and restore order in society ( Guevara, 2013 ). It is through propaganda that the members of these organizations promote negative perceptions and attitudes among the citizens towards security forces. In so doing, the cartels manage to control most individuals, making them informants, especially when the police are after them ( Phillips & Ríos, 2019 ). The collaboration between the citizens and the drug cartels has deterred law enforcement from apprehending drug-traffickers.
Mexican drug cartels also generate political propaganda through available media outlets. Via these platforms, they can convey information to the public and even recruit them in the drug-trafficking business ( Guevara, 2013 ). Cartels not only do this to recruit individuals but to establish their dominance in society. Drug traffickers have gained considerable influence through this. In fact, the common folk avoids crossing drug traffickers, more than they do the local police. Media outlets have enabled drug cartels to establish their dominance in the country, which forces individuals and the police alike to comply with their wishes whenever called upon ( Phillips & Ríos, 2019) .
Affluent criminal syndicates have great influence on the political processes in Mexico. Mexico has more than eighty million eligible voters and more than one hundred and forty-three thousand, one hundred and fifty-one polling stations. Additionally, almost half of the voters are between the ages of twenty and forty-nine, which makes them susceptible to political influence by the members of these cartels through social media. Cartels have the power to influence or even bully political candidates. Furthermore, they are able to force individuals to withdraw from politics if they support other candidates. For instance, several cartel members recently opened fire in the home of Saul Garcia, a candidate vying for the mayor position, in the town of Emiliano Zapata. Garcia was forced to withdraw from the race or have his family massacred if he failed to comply. Mexican drug cartels also intimidate voters and electoral officials so that they can do their bidding. The notion of free and fair elections is a privilege that Mexican citizens no longer enjoy.
The main reason for the ineffectiveness of the efforts directed at combating drug-trafficking is the collaboration between security forces and government officials with the cartels. The members of these organizations embrace the principle of “promo o plata.” It is also referred to as the silver or lead principle, which is a code word relating to the cartel's use of bribes and bullets to influence others. Rumors of the immense support provided by the state representatives to the Sinaloa cartel recently prevailed Mexico. In addition, the billionaire drug lord of the same organization who was apprehended by the police escaped prison immediately after. It was rumored that various administrators played a part in the jailbreak. In detail, the prisoner hid in a laundry truck after which he was smuggled out of prison. Several government officials were said to have been involved in the escape. In another case, the Mexican navy, who are considered the most competent and ethical, recently claimed that they had apprehended Alfredo Guzman Salazar, only to change their report, saying that they had captured an innocent twenty-three-year-old boy named Felix Leon instead. Corruption, therefore, inhibits the apprehension of cartel members.
Additionally, the presence of cartels in Mexico forces the government to utilize a significant portion of its resources trying to eradicate these organizations, as opposed to directing them to other areas of need such as the development of more medical institutions and infrastructure (Brown & Velásquez, 2017). The president of Mexico recently instructed that more resources be put in the fight against the drug cartels (Bel & Holst, 2018). The government has incurred huge financial losses in its attempts to eradicate drug-trafficking and to suppress the influence of the cartels in the society. The Mexican government has often sought the assistance of the United States in dealing with the drug problem, and several of leaders and members of these cartels have been apprehended and imprisoned (Bel & Holst, 2018). Despite the progress made by this collaboration, there is a need for more efforts to reduce the impact of the cartels in the country. The core priority of the United States is to protect its borders from insecurity and illegal business activities. It is imperative for the two countries to increase their cooperation and work hand in hand in curtailing the growth of the cartels (Cooper, 2017). For instance, the security agencies of the two countries should work together to promote information sharing on matters pertaining to the cartels. However, more strategies should be developed to mitigate this issue in both Mexican and US borders.
In conclusion, the drug problem in Mexico is directly linked to the existence of the various cartels in the country. The cartels produce, transport, and control the swelling of drugs across the country and in the neighboring countries such as the United States. It is important to recognize the success of the cartels in circumventing the justice systems through the various approaches that they have adopted. Corruption and blackmail are among the key strategies that the cartels have used since time immemorial to evade the police and other law enforcement agencies. The killing of drug enforcement agents remains one of the strategy that the cartels have used to ward off an investigation into their operations in Mexico. Propaganda, violence, and the adoption of technology are also vital strategies that have been used by many cartels in defending their territories. The presence of cartels has led to the deaths of thousands of people, and it is necessary that the government efforts are focused on eradicating the existing cartels. However, it is also essential to recognize the role that the civilians also have in curbing the spread of these cartels. While the civilians may have little to do in stopping the cartels, they can start by avoiding membership of these organizations. The drug problem is defined by the presence of the cartels, and as such, the first solution to the drug problems in Mexico involves the eradication of all cartels and their associates from the region.
Conclusion
It is rather unfortunate that counting the number of dead people is the primary means through which one can effectively measure the impacts of Mexican drug cartels. Irrefutably, they run and control Mexico. Often, rumors of corrupt authoritative officials pave the way for other individuals to fill the vacuum of control. In the case of Mexico, drug cartels have seized upon this opportunity. President Calderon’s first acts as president were to launch a war against Mexican cartels. Despite the effectiveness of the exponential militarization, many have argued that the implications of the policy were poorly thought out since it led to an aggressive overreach of state-sanctioned violence. Often, the strategies taken result in more violence and bloodshed. Hence, it is impossible to overlook the power these cartels have on citizens. Undeniably, drug-traffickers have developed a parallel government structure, resulting in dual sovereignty. The cartel administration performs duties that are similar to the Mexican government, such as the creation of employment and tax collection, among others. Even though these functions relay specific messages to the public, none reveals their power and domination, such as the public display of killings. The Mexican government should examine and compare different strategies, to determine which is more effective and has fewer implications. Concurrently, it would protect its citizens from further harm.
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