This paper attempts to examine the characteristics of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is revered as one of the most well established criminal organizations in Latin America having been quoted by Columbian newspaper El Tiempo, as controlling 35% of the cocaine exported from Columbia. Columbia itself is regarded as the largest producer of cocaine in the world. They have long been known to exploit transnational commerce and communications to protect and guide their illicit, profit driven activities. The organization’s characteristics, methods of operation, organizational structure, activities, and threats to the region and country of its various operations will all be explored extensively in addition to the impact of local and foreign law enforcement …show more content…
Their operations were established in 17 Mexican States and as many as 50 countries throughout North, Central, and South America, Australia Europe, Southeast Asia and West Africa. Sinaloa would establish shipping routes across borders using hundreds of elaborate smuggling tunnels whereby the target goods would be transported to various destinations to allies for distribution. Their ingenious methods of smuggling would often astound law enforcement as they were always improving constantly. Cocaine was found in frozen sharks, sprinkled on donuts, and crammed in cucumbers. The cartel’s operations were often outsourced to local partners in foreign countries who were given significant autonomy over their operations which allowed them the ability to retain profit. Drug shipments are coordinated by an unidentified businessman who works with another criminal organization known as Los Urabenos which comprises right wing paramilitaries. They would label the shipments as “Lacoste”, “Apple” and “Made in Columbia.” Most of Sinaloa’s work was done by cells across different countries which operated independently of each other and communicated only with El …show more content…
The cartel’s power came mainly as a result of its ability to establish strong connections to the political and economic elite in Mexico. They also successfully penetrated government and security forces where it operated. They were known to opting to bribe their targets rather than use force and formed alliances rather than creating enemies, but they used force whenever they wanted to take control of an area from a rival cartel. The cartel bolsters its ranks with mainly young poor individuals. Most of their target countries are overrun by poverty and as a result, manpower is abundant in supply. Sinaloa’s most powerful ally was the National Action Party (PAN) which was responsible for its growth over the last decade. With the aid of PAN, a number of El Chapo’s rivals were captured by local law enforcement which helped to eliminate major competition and propel the organization forward. Sinaloa had also established an alliance with the left wing guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC). In 2012 FARC agreed to suspend drug trafficking as part of the peace talks. Sinaloa then moved in and began franchising drug operations from FARC rebels allowing the cartel to extend its reach into the production stages
In the Ted talk called, The Deadly Genius of Drug Cartels, with the speaker Rodrigo Canales, he talks about the following; the violence of the drug cartels, the financial businesses of the drug cartels, and how they're successful with the U.S is involved. First, in the Ted Talk, Rodrigo Canales speaks about the violence of Mexico from the past six years which is caused by the drug dealers. The violence is caused by the drug dealers because it's key to them to have good brand management and having a strong group organization, therefore causing them to be violent. Also, the amount of violence in Mexico was caused by the drug dealers causing 100,000 innocent casualties, which is more deaths than the Iraq war. Next, in this Ted Talk, the speaker Rodrigo Canales explains the financial businesses of the drug cartels and how they're successful and how the U.S is involved with the drug cartels to make the cartels financially stable.
Recent arrests and the diminished opportunity to forward cocaine to U.S had left them with the necessity to embark in kidnappings, auto thefts, extortion, murders for hire, human smuggling, and other felonies not to mention that local demand for narcotics had increased recently. The Tijuana Cartel operations extents from the U.S Mexico border across Central America through the Pacific Route and receives support of one of most violent criminal organizations: Los
The Los Zetas cartel consists of some of the most deadly men in Mexico. Comprised and founded by rogue Mexican Special Ops soldiers they branched off from their former employers (The Gulf cartel) and are now fighting for their territory. Based in Matamoros the Gulf Cartel was the original heavy hitter of Mexico's cartels. Currently the Gulf Cartel is in an ongoing war with the Los Zetas. Lead by El Chapo the Sinaloa Cartel is the current leader of the drug trade in all of Mexico. The cartels are fighting the Mexican government for power over the country. Federal agents target cartels and are able to weaken them but just before the agents can take over a rival cartel comes in and takes the territory starting the whole process over again. The cartels act like a Hydra Kill one Head and two will take its
The arrest of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman was a victorious circumstance for the Mexican government, who have been closing down on his presence for the recent past years. Mexican authorities began taking down high ranked members of the Sinaloa Cartel including two of Guzman’s main associates. On February 22, 2014, the world’s most wanted man had also been captured. Although the biggest drug lord has been captured, the crime and violence left behind cannot be forgotten.
The Mexican drug cartels not only smuggle drugs to the U.S., but also distribute their narcotic drugs. They also finance terrorist organizations, assassinate their rivals, families, and anyone that comes in their way. They are a violent and cruel criminal organization. The Mexican drug cartels are not the ones anyone would want to meet.
The cartels are now in control of most of the drug trades and are successful. The Mexican border gives them the power to go everywhere they desire, making them a relentless force. “To date operation Xcellrator has led the arrest of 755 individuals and the seizure of approximately 5 U.S. Currency more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, more than 16,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 11,000 of methamphetamine, more than 8 kilograms of heroin, approximately 1.3 million pills of ecstasy”(Doj 2). Mexican cartels extend to central and southern America. Columbia is the supply of much of the cocaine exported to the U.S. Colombia is under control of South American gangs, they do business with the Mexican cartels to transport drugs the north. The Northern Mexican gangs hold the most control because the territory is very important (Wagner1). They are many different types of cartel in Mexico it also signifies that there are killing each other so their cartel can expand an...
The war over drug routes and power between rival cartels has left Mexico in a bloody war. The violence occurring throughout the country only seems to escalate. In part, the United States has a role in this war because of the exploitation of weapons. Unfortunately, a lot of people are being killed every day because of the drug war. Action from Mexico must be taken swiftly to avoid any further casualties by collaborating with the United States on how to stop the smuggling of guns, building trust between the community and the police, and deciding on a plan to the help the economy for their citizens.
Over the last several decades, violence has consumed and transformed Mexico. Since the rise of dozens of Mexican cartels, the Mexican government has constantly been fighting an ongoing war with these criminal organizations. The cartel organizations have a primary purpose of managing and controlling illegal drug trafficking operations in Central America and South America to the United States. Violence on a massive and brutal scale has emerged due to the nature of the illegal drug trade. Because the drug trade is vastly widespread, cartels are often fighting one another and competing in business. Mexican authorities count at least 12 major cartels, but also talk of an untold numbers of smaller splinter groups. (Taipei Times). Five cartels from Mexico have risen to become the extremely powerful amongst all the drug organizations operating in Mexico. The Guadalajara Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, the Juarez Cartel, and the Gulf Cartel. These organizations, along with other distinguished Mexican cartels, have plagued Mexico with violence, terror, and fear due to the essence and nature of illegal drug trafficking.
The Sinaloa Cartel was led by Joaquin Guzman who was a most-wanted Mexican drug trafficker worth a billion dollars. Under control of Joaquin, the Sinaloa Cartel became powerful and won the battle against the Juarez Cartel who was a former partner of the group. The battle, caused by want for more routes into the U.S. resulted in 12,000 deaths and led the group to employ gangs such as the Artist Assassins, Genre Nueva, and Los Mexicles to fight against the Juarez Cartel. The second half of the Guadalajara Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel was started in the 1990s and by the early 2000s became one of the “biggest and most violent criminal groups in Mexico,” as stated by the article, “The Five Most Famous Drug Cartels”.
Drug trafficking has been a massive concern between the borders of Mexico and the U.S. “since mid 1970s” (Wyler, 1). Drug trafficking is “knowingly being in possession, manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or delivering an illegal, controlled substance” (LaMance, 1). A dynamic relationship exists amongst Columbia, Mexico, and the U.S. the informal drug trafficking economy. This growing informal drug economy leads to many individuals creating a substantial living through this undercover market. These individual drug cartels monopolizing the trafficking market are a growing problem for the U.S economy and need to be located and controlled. If this trafficking continues, the U.S. informal economy will crush the growth of legal industries. The trafficking and abuse of drugs in the U.S. affects nearly all aspects of consumer life. Drug trafficking remains a growing issue and concern to the U.S. government. The U.S. border control must find a way to work with Mexico to overpower the individuals who contribute to the drug trafficking business. This market must be seized and these individuals must be stopped.
The Mexican drug cartel is made up of many different cartels, but the main one is the Sinaloa cartel. The Sinaloa cartel is one of the most dangerous cartels in Mexico, it is also the most optimistic cartel in Mexico, they will go to high extents into their projects. The leader of the Sinaloa cartel is Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is believed to be one of the most powerful drug lords in the whole world. There aren’t many organizations trying to stop the cartels, besides the DEA, which stands for Drug Enforcement Administration. The drug cartel is all about smuggling drugs to many parts of the world, but mostly the U.S. since they share borders and are the closest place to take drugs.
Currently the Sinaloa Cartel utilizes guerrilla type tactics. The cartels in general are accustom to fighting again military forces rather than typical law enforcement techniques. Due to their experience in fighting military forces, they are more of a threat to U.S. forces. Part of their tactics against civilian populous is to instill fear. The cartels are very violent and will threaten the local populous with the lives of their family. They are known for their lethal tactics that involve kidnappings, beheadings, hangings, mass shootings, executions, and death threats. Most of the local populous is likely to side with the cartel due to fear for their own and families lives.
They are adapting by looking into new ways to make money such as extortion, kidnapping, arms trafficking, murder for hire, and human trafficking. Many critics say these actions look a lot like diversifying their moneymaking interests. " For the commercial insurgency, border controls are perfunctory in "free trade" areas, and there is still a great demand for goods that are linked to smuggling" (PRISM Issue No 3). President Calderon's term in office has seen numerous arrests and significant cooperation with U.S. law enforcement, and intelligence activities, which has negated the freedom of movement the cartels once enjoyed.
II. Main Point 1: The Sinaloa Drug Cartel was created when a previous powerful drug cartel failed due to the arrest of its leader
Many people know of cartels and drug trafficking, however, they do not realize how serious of a problem it is becoming. Every day there are hundreds of drugs transported into the United States from Latin America, mostly coming from Mexico and Columbia. These cartels are becoming smarter and more creative with their ways of smuggling drugs. They have become ruthless and will do whatever it takes to get their supplies into the country. To better understand how cartels work, you must understand their ways of transporting drugs and how creative they have become with it. Cartels will go as far as using tunnels, boats, planes, vehicles, donkeys and mules to transport all of their drugs.