America s fight against drug trafficking in central america and the caribbean in the 1980s and 1990s shifted the geographic locus of the drug trade to mexico by the early 2000s. A new report sheds light on how vulnerable populations subjected to slavelike conditions line the pocketbooks of organized crime networks across latin america. A firstrate update on the state of the longfought hemispheric war on drugs. Counterdrug programs congressional research service 1 an overview of illicit drugs in latin america and the caribbean1 in recent decades, latin america has played a central role in several major global illicit drug markets. Air force can play a meaningful role in helping boost partner nations capacities to counter this pernicious threat. Transnational organized crime in central america and. Weak law enforcement enables drug trafficking, which, in turn, undermines the rule of law even further. Drug trafficking, violence and politics in northern mali. The making of a global drug a mustread volume for policy makers, concerned citizens, and students alike in the. A very useful primer for anyone trying to keep up with the everevolving relationship between drug enforcement and drug trafficking.
Drug trafficking, violence, and instability in mexico. While the passing of legislation thats more in line with international antihuman trafficking standards is a step forward, the region still needs to confront the high levels of impunity involved in these cases. However, as narcotrafficking become the source of funding for violent insurgents and paramilitaries in colombia and peru, and as drug use and drug related gang activity has exploded around the region, that. Its aim is to provide readers an introductory yet elaborate text on the illegal drug problem in the region. Drug trafficking and organized crime in latin america and the caribbean in the twentyfirst century. This page will provide information and statistics to illustrate the magnitude of the movement of drugs into and throughout the united states. Interests and policy geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the united states and the latin.
Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the. In recent years, there have been thousands of deaths related to the war against drugs in latin america and it has become a major security threat in the american continent and beyond. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs through the use of drug prohibition laws. Organized crime profits from modern slavery in latin america. How illicit trade made america in 1971, richard nixon declared a war on drugs. A guide to mexicos most powerful drug cartels bbc news. Unodc is continuously monitoring and researching global illicit drug markets in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their dynamics. Today, after decades of failing to adequately control drug consumption, an even graver problem has emerged. The latin american drug trade has emerged as an increasingly serious challenge to regional and international security, and the u. The evolution of drug trafficking and organized crime in. Turf wars by drug dealers account for most of the murders in the united states. Pdf drug trafficking and organized crime in latin america. A global problem with a domestic solution matthew s.
An overview of the impact of drug trafficking and organized crime on democratic governance in 6 countries in latin america mexico, colombia, guatemala, venezuela peru and brazil. Americas fight against drug trafficking in central america and the caribbean in the 1980s and 1990s shifted the geographic locus of the drug trade to mexico by the early 2000s. Fourteen of the 20 most violent countries in the world are in latin america and the caribbean. Camacho guizado drug trafficking and the guerrilla movement in colombia. In the 1990s, most latin americans felt little effects from drugs or drug trafficking. Central american gangs and drug trafficking recent. The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs that are subject to drug prohibition laws. More navy ships headed to south, central america to stop drug trafficking adm. Two decades of cooperation between europe and latin america to combat drugs and drug trafficking have had a limited impact in terms of reducing drug consumption and.
Manual eradication is the preferred method for eradicating in areas where illicit. Drug flights to central america dropped by a third and traffickers were pushed east to the caribbean islands. The indictment of a ruling head of state is highly unusual. As noted by the united nations office on drugs and crime 1994, p. Wildlife trade and trafficking in latin america has not reached the crisis levels that it has in southeast asia and africa, where familiar and welldocumented examples of population declines due to international trafficking exist for species such as freshwater turtles, tigers, elephants and rhinos. Drug trafficking and drug policies in the americas. Drug production and trafficking colombia currently accounts for the vast bulk of cocaine produced in latin america. In 2009, the country produced 270 metric tons mt of cocaine, making it the principal supplier for both the united states and the worldwide market.
Major drug trafficking routes in latin america and the caribbean 3. Drug traffickingrelated crime and violence in the region has. Trafficking in illicit drugs, money, and people in latin america harold trinkunas thursday, december 3, 2015. However, as the report transnational organized crime in central america and the caribbean. As a response to growing pressures in colombia, it appears drug traffickers are. The history of central american gangs and drug trafficking is a complex one filled with murder and extortion. This paper addresses the multidimensional threat to the hemisphere posed by drug trafficking, organized crime, and corruption. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. Transnational organized crime in central america and the. Its strategic geographic location in the center of central america, with coastal access to the atlantic and pacific oceans, is a boon for both licit and illicit economic activity, making it a key hub for drug trafficking.
The next section of this report explores the growing need for a u. Combating drug trafficking in latin america youtube. Through these networks, illicit drugs and trafficked human beings flow. The evolution of drug trafficking and organized crime in latin america.
Maritime drug trafficking in latin america is the primary mean of transportation of illegal drugs produced in this region to global consumer markets. Crimes by drug addicts account for most of the prostitution, robberies, and burglaries in america. Women and girls from latin america, particularly from mexico, are vulnerable to trafficking in certain kinds of illicit cantinas and highfrequency brothels that look, to the outside world, like normal bars and restaurants or private homes. Change, continuity, and challenges volume 59 issue 2 angelica duranmartinez skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. North america, including canada, accounted for some 40% of worldwide cocaine consumpti on. Human trafficking is reportedly the third largest illicit industry in latin america, behind drug and arms trafficking. Key issues and actions in the 114th congress congressional research service summary u. Drugs and drug policy in thailand brookings institution.
In latin america, drug use tends to begin at younger ages with use especially common in 1222 years olds. Pdf the story of drug trafficking in latin america. The impact of organized crime on democratic governance. The resulting violence has had a major impact on the countrys stability and security. Jenner abstract forty years ago, the world declared war on drugs. Marcela turati, a freelance journalist in mexico city who. The trafficking of illicit cocaine has undoubtedly given stimulus to the violence, but the instability is embedded in weak institutions and the. The social impacts of drug trafficking and heroin in america. It is particularly timely, as the perception that the war is lost and needs to be changed has never been stronger in latin and north america. In some latin american countries, traffickers equipped with vast resources have.
Drugs trafficking in the caribbean full circle the. More navy ships headed to south, central america to stop. Drug trafficking united nations office on drugs and crime. This paper will highlight the economic impact of drug trade in mexico by using procontra. In this paper the role of mexican and brazilian cultures, primarily as they pertain to gender, raceethnicity, and poverty, in latin american trafficking victimization is examined. Drug traffickingrelated crime and violence in the region has escalated in.
Major drug trafficking routes in latin america and the caribbean. Pdf the economic impact of drug trafficking in mexico. Unodc collects analyzes and reports data on drug trafficking trends including arrest, seizures, price and purity of illicit drugs submitted by the member states through the annual reports questionnaires arq. Human trafficking has recently garnered much publicity, often being considered the second or third most profitable black market trade after drugs and weapons. Challenges to democracy, authorbruce michael bagley, year2015.
Drug trafficking is not just a problem in america s cities it is the main problem. Air force can and should play in boosting mexicos capacity to counter drug production and trafficking, as well as further honing and adjusting its wider counternarcotics effort in latin america. Latin americas success and struggles in fighting human. Drug production and trafficking united nations office on. Their activities contribute to the challenges of violence, corruption, and poverty, which are among the primary drivers of illegal migration. The coca cultivation is concentrated in the andes of south america, particularly in colombia, peru and bolivia. The 2016 global slavery index published by walk free foundation estimates that 2. Counterintuitively, some areas sustain high levels of illegal activity without high levels of violence if the state retains sufficient enforcement capacity or cooperates with organized crime. Dea efforts to try hezbollah operatives involved in drug trafficking, and it should punish. Cocaine, 19451965 volume 64 issue 2 paul gootenberg. Southern command, speaks during the commissioning ceremony of uss billings lcs 15. Illegal drugs, drug trafficking and violence in latin america.
These organizations maintain a very large network of family and friends throughout the united states who often help facilitate drug trafficking operations. Trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation in. Drug and crime problems are stifling latin americas. Other countries in the region such as haiti and jamaica7 are highly affected by human trafficking and used as trafficking hubs for south american. Center for latin american studies and office of the.
Often people believe that gangs and cartels are the same, but they are different. Counterdrug programs congressional research service summary drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and u. Although law enforcement fights every day to keep our streets free of drugs, the problem of drug supply and demand remains. Central american gangs and drug trafficking recent central. Transnational crime remains a particularly serious problem in latin america, with most issues connected to the drug trade.
Latin america and the multinational drug trade elizabeth joyce. This research will argue that colombian and mexican cartels shared some similarities, and that several experiences in. Though people often associate it with eastern europe or asia, there is mounting evidence that the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation, with its concomitant human rights abuses and health consequences, is a significant problem in the americasone that promises to worsen unless collective action is. The fight against drug trafficking and crime in the. Organized crime and drug trafficking organizations congressional research service 3 even by the latin american experience, the increases in mexicos homicide rate and absolute number of homicides from 2007 to the end of the administration of president felipe calderon in. As part of al jazeeras drugs central special, al jazeeras shihab rattansi spoke to steven dudley, the codirector of insight crime, an organisation which examines organised crime in latin america. The illegal drug trade in latin america concerns primarily the production and sale of cocaine and cannabis, including the export of these banned substances to the united states and europe. Overview of the latin american drug trade, 1970spresent. Conflict and insecurity are a direct result of drug trafficking and for the cases of colombia and mexico, this is not the exception. Inside indiana state prison s1 e1 meeting america s death row inmates.
Source and scope of the rising violence congressional research service 1 introduction the brutal and growing drug trafficking related violence in mexicobeheadings, public hanging of corpses, killing of innocent bystanders including children, car bombs, torture, and assassination. A threat assessment makes clear, the violent impact of drugs and crime forms only part of the regions problems. Office on drugs and crime finds that latin america is the most dangerous region in the world. Fully eradicating the problem is unrealistic in the short term, but mali and its partners should work to demilitarise drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. The precolombian era of drug trafficking in the americas. Cocaine is the primary illegal drug smuggled through maritime routes because all of its cultivation and production it is settled in the andean region of south america. Wildlife trafficking in latin america pdf free download. The eu and the efta european free trade association countries. Major and growing illicit trafficking networks link latin america to europe, asia, and north america.
Coverage of drug trafficking and organized crime in latin america. Drug trade in mexico oxford research encyclopedia of. Despite the great economic benefits of joining a drug cartel, there are also numerous risks. The evolution of drug trafficking and organized crime in latin. From opium to marijuana to cocaine, a variety of substances have been illegally imported, sold and distributed throughout u. While the passing of legislation thats more in line with international antihuman trafficking standards is a step forward, the region still needs to confront the high levels of. Conflict among drug traffickers in northern mali generates levels of violence unparalleled in the region and hinders the implementation of the 2015 intermalian peace agreements. Center for 21st century security and intelligence latin america initiative 1 amped in anara. Mexican dtos are poly drug in nature and are responsible for the vast majority of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana trafficked into the united states. Unodc is continuously monitoring and researching global illicit drug markets in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of.
Sep 30, 2016 drug trafficking is not just a problem in americas cities it is the main problem. This book describes the main patterns and trends of drug trafficking in latin america. Drug trade in mexico oxford research encyclopedia of latin. An improved strategy to fight drug trafficking, organized. Pdf the bush administrations andean drug strategy in historical perspective, w. Yet because of a lack of trust, an inability to undertake stable commitments by some countries, and different u. Drug trafficking in mexico is a multibilliondollar industry which shapes the country in many ways. It identifies eight key trends that have characterized illicit drug trafficking and organized crime as of mid2011. This article analyses the evolution of illegal drug economy in the americas over the past two decades. Maritime drug trafficking in latin america wikipedia.
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