Illegal Drug Trafficking
Despite global governments declaring war on illegal drug trafficking, it remains a challenge for many countries. Drug trafficking involves violence, which is dangerous for citizens. Illicit drug trafficking is a significant problem in Mexico, with drug cartels holding the drug industry hostage. Mexico has the most significant and powerful cartels which control the drugs business: Gulf, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Zetas, among others. The cartels have taken control of the industry and immersed wealth to fund drug wars. The drug wars claim numerous lives that require immediate solutions. Non-coercive and non-legal methods could be useful in solving the challenge of illegal drug trafficking in Mexico. Community collaboration, mass media campaigns, educating the community and family counseling are some of the solutions for the prevention and reduction of drug use in Mexico as well as globally. The paper discusses illegal drug trafficking as a societal problem and illustrates a solution to the existing societal challenge.
The Problem: Illegal Drug Trafficking
Mexico is one of the countries known for illegal drug trafficking. Mexican drug cartels are powerful as they control vast aspects of the country’s operations. The drug lords engage in corruption, assassination, and kidnapping to enlarge their illegal drug empires (Laura, Calderón, Octavio & David, 2019). Cartels have been reported to slaughter, torture, and kidnap members of rival groups, which is a useful tool to gain supremacy in the illicit drug trafficking business. Research shows that Mexican illegal drug trafficking business claims thousands of lives annually. Heroin, cocaine, and marijuana are the most common drugs that are trafficked by Mexican cartels. The Mexican cartels get billions of dollars from trafficking illegal drugs across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The Background: Illegal Drug Trafficking Cartels in Mexico
Mexico has numerous illegal drug cartels that are responsible for criminal activities within the country and in the neighboring counties. The Sinaloa cartel has been described as one of the most potent illegal drug trafficking institutions globally. The cartel, which was founded in the 1980s, controls the North West part of Mexico (Chew, 2014). The infamous El Chapo led the illicit drug empires for several years, where he gained fame, power, and money. El Chapo enabled cartel to gain a reputation for violence, a fact that has been replayed in numerous books and television shows. The members of the drug trafficking groups turn to violence to demonstrate their disappointment. The group staged street battles when their leader, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, was arrested by the police in late 2019 (Laura, Calderón, Octavio & David, 2019). The groups’ gunmen were ready to break out their leader just to show their power and influence, at the expense of other people’s lives. The cartel has kidnappers, drug dealers, and assassins on their payroll, which points to the rot that exists in the society. The cartels kidnap, kill, and torture members of rival groups.
The Jalisco New Generation is a Mexican illegal drug cartel that controls the Western part of the country. The cartels, which were founded in 2010, is a significant competitor to the Sinaloa cartel (Atuesta, Siordia & Lajous, 2018). The cartel, which is worth more than twenty billion US dollars, organizes crimes in Mexico. Their use of immense violence has linked the group’s supremacy. The cartel, which was led by Ruben Oseguera, famously known as El Mencho, is a major supplier of synthetic drugs. The cartel distributes illegal drugs in the US, Asian, and European markets. The group is responsible for the insecurity in Tijuana, Mexico, Juarez, and Guanajuato cities. The cartel targets public officers and security forces. The group used rocket-propelled grenades to attack a helicopter belonging to the Army, killing tens of public officials. The group uses intimidation to expand its network, mainly by hanging victims after killing them.
The Gulf Cartel is an old criminal group that controls the North-Eastern part of Mexico. The cartel, which was founded in the 1980s, is famous for trafficking cocaine and marijuana into the United States of America (Aire, 2012). The cartel, which works closely with cartels based in Colombia, smuggles heroin and amphetamine. The members of the cartel use bribery and engage in political corruption to avoid getting arrested by government officials. Juan Abrego, the initial leader of the group, was arrested and imprisoned in the US. Osiel Guillen took over the cartel’s leadership after his predecessor was jailed for life. The new leader brought on corrupt board soldiers to protect the operations of the cartel (Steve & Patrick, 2018). The military wing of the cartel resulted in more violence, which is a significant challenge for global society. The corrupt members of the Army broke off from the Gulf cartel to form the Zetas cartel in 2010.
The Zetas cartel, which was founded by thirty ex-soldiers, used violence against their competition. The group clashed with their competition using brutality, and by 2012, the group was known to be the largest and most potent illegal drug cartel (Laura, Calderón, Octavio & David, 2019). The group tortures and decapitates its victims, which has contributed to its supremacy. The group started engaging in all kinds of criminal activity, such as human trafficking, with the promise of making more money. The group was wreaked when their leaders were arrested, which enabled rival cartels to gain dominance over the areas that they previously controlled. Illegal drug trafficking is a societal problem as it affects people on a global scale. Drug trafficking has resulted in addiction and increased cases of money laundering, which is a significant challenge, especially for the US.
The Solution: Drug Use Prevention and Reduction
Non-coercive means should be used to promote the prevention of drug use globally, as a way of combatting the challenge of illegal drug trafficking. Research shows that synthetic drugs are the most common illicit drugs that are trafficked globally, from Mexico. Synthetic and other illegal drugs are a multibillion venture, hence attracting the attention of numerous criminal groups. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine are some of the illicit drugs which affect public security and health (Atuesta, Siordia & Lajous, 2018). Drugs affect the health of the people abusing them, resulting in drug-related disorders. The government, healthcare professionals, public servants, and families should use non-coercive means to reduce and eliminate drug use. The challenge of illegal drug trafficking can be solved by reducing the population using drugs.
Mass media campaigns are a useful tool in educating the masses on the impacts of substance abuse, hence eliminating the challenge of illegal drug trafficking. People who are involved in drug abuse need support from different players. A mass media campaign is a useful tool that can be used to promote the agenda of drug usage prevention and reduction (Chew, 2014). Mass media campaigns could be used to inform people about the impacts of drug use. The drug users could be trained on the consequences of abusing drugs, which could enable them to change the beliefs that they hold on to with regards to illegal drugs. The training which could involve the cost implications of engaging in drug use has the potential of reducing drug use in the global population. Research shows that even though alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs, their use increases the chances of using illegal drugs (Aire, 2012). People who use alcohol or tobacco may resort to using illicit drugs at a later time.
Mass media campaigns may be used to promote nonuse by illustrating the positive impacts of not engaging in substance abuse and debunk myths on the prevalence of drug use in certain groups of people. Besides communicating the consequences of abusing drugs and nonuse, the anti-drugs campaign could equip people with the skills to resist drug use (Steve & Patrick, 2018). Therefore, training on the consequences of drug abuse should cover not only illegal drug usage but also legal drugs. Newspapers, billboards, radio, television, interactive media, and the entertainment industry could collaborate to promote the mass media campaign against drug use. Research shows that reducing the number of messages promoting drug use is an essential step in reducing drug usage in Mexico (Calderón, Robles, Diaz-Cayeros & Magaloni, 2015). Communicating the facts about drug abuse could reduce the prestige surrounding abusing illicit drugs, which would reduce the number of drug users, especially young people. Therefore, mass media campaigns are an essential tool in combatting illegal drug trafficking.
Community collaboration and the coalition is an effective strategy in dealing with the challenge of illegal drugs trafficking in Mexico. The different players existing in the Mexican communities should collaborate and develop customized community-wide methodologies that aim at preventing and reducing substance abuse in the country (Salvador, 2013). The communities should suggest specific people as representatives who would be charged with the responsibility of outlining particular goals, coming up with ways of reaching the goals and put in place strategies to implement the planned goals to attain the desired deliverables. For the community groups to be successful in promoting the agenda of non-drug use, they should involve professional people (Atuesta & Pérez-Dávila, 2018). The professional staff who could be residents or staff working in the local area would offer additional insight into the planning and implementation of the strategies for reducing and preventing drug use.
Family counseling and case management is an essential solution in controlling the challenge of illicit drugs trafficking. Instruction and training could be used to improve the ability of families to prevent drug use (Dell, 2015). The strategy could aim at training parents on how to manage their children. The family counseling sessions are an effective way of improving emotional connections between parents and their children, and developing self-control and decision-making skills in children. The instruction and training sessions could improve the performance of students in school and act as a tool to determine if children have fallen victims to drug use.
Non-coercive and non-legal methods are effective in preventing drug use hence combating the challenge of illegal drug trafficking. The solution is viable as it puts the potential victims at the center of the solution. People who are informed about the consequences of taking illicit drugs are less likely to engage in drug abuse compared to ignorant people (Calderón, Robles, Diaz-Cayeros & Magaloni, 2015). Therefore, the mass media campaign is a logical solution for the challenge of illicit drug trafficking. Illegal drug trafficking is a societal challenge that can only be solved at the community level. Therefore, community collaboration and coordination are essential in formulating and implementing community-specific strategies to reduce and prevent substance abuse in Mexico. Research shows that family training is more intensive than parent training programs. Family training and instruction programs consider specific cases hence equip all players with the much-needed skills in controlling and monitoring the impacts of drug abuse (Atuesta & Pérez-Dávila, 2018). Additionally, the interventions offered during the training sessions equip the families with treatment options for their family members and methods that can be used to manage cases of relapse.
The solution is reliable and valid since it considers the root cause of the problem, which is the drug users. Increasing the market share is the bone of contention of illicit drug trafficking business players. Therefore, reducing the number of drug users is the most reliable, ethical, and valid solution for the existing problem in Mexico. Reducing drug trafficking groups will reduce criminal activities in Mexico, which is a good outcome (Dell, 2015). The solution is based on the assumption that the information on the consequences of drug use is enough to encourage drug users to quit their addiction. The research makes use of reputable sources, suggested a logical solution with existing methodologies, and seeks to involve different players in the community to ensure the success of the anti-illicit drug trafficking plan. However, the research fails to cover the obstacles that drug users face as they try to stop using drugs, which is a significant factor in preventing and reducing drug abuse. Future research should focus on the obstacles faced by players who are seeking to stop illicit drug trafficking cartels.
In conclusion, illicit drug trafficking is a significant challenge in Mexican society that needs an immediate solution. Cartels, which act as criminal groups, control illegal drug business in Mexico. The cartels promote the use of violence, which is unethical. Reducing and preventing drug abuse is a solution to the illicit drug trafficking challenge in Mexico. Family training and instruction, mass media campaigns and community collaboration are essential steps in preventing and reducing drug abuse.
References
Aire, J. (2012). Blood, Death, Drugs, and Sex in Old Mexico. Create space Independent Publishers
Atuesta, L., Siordia, O., & Lajous, M. (2018). “The “War on Drugs” in Mexico: Database of Events between December 2006 and November 2011.” Journal of Conflict Resolution.
Atuesta, L., & Pérez-Dávila, Y. (2018). “Fragmentation and Cooperation: The Evolution of Organized Crime in Mexico.” Trends in Organized Crime 21 (3).
Calderón, G., Robles, G., Diaz-Cayeros, A., & Magaloni, B. (2015). “The Beheading of Criminal Organizations and the Dynamics of Violence in Mexico.” Journal of Conflict Resolution 59 (8).
Chew Sánchez, I. (2014). “Paramilitarism and State-Terrorism in Mexico as a Case Study of Shrinking Functions of the Neoliberal State.” Perspectives on Global Development & Technology.
Dell, M. (2015). “Trafficking Networks and the Mexican Drug War.” The American Economic Review 105 (6).
Laura, Y., Calderón, H., Octavio R., & David, A. (2019). Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico. University of San Diego.
Salvador, A. (2013). “Stories of Drug Trafficking in Rural Mexico: Territories, Drugs, and Cartels in Michoacan.” European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies. 94 (94).
Steve, F., & Patrick, J. (2018). “Mexico Sent in the Army to fight the Drug War. Many Question the Toll on Society and the Army Itself.” Los Angeles Times.