Perhaps the most important impact is the influence and corruption of the political system. Many journalists and authors have written that the narcotics business has direct links to political power, and they are right in the fact that the growth and structure of the narcotics business in Mexico during the twentieth century were directly tied to the Mexican political system (Navarro & Vivas, 2012). Drug cartels start off by taking over small and local businesses, then progress to larger ones, and eventually having some sort of power or influence over high-ranking and government officials. Cartels contribute to local and regional political campaigns, bribe officials, and much more to assure the need to extract favors and permissions from the officeholders
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As stated previously, American Prohibition had huge and lasting impacts on Mexico and their production and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Mexico still continues to be a prime distributor of narcotics to the US; in the mid 1990s, it was estimated that about 70% of cocaine, 30% of heroin, 80% of marijuana in the US was provided by Mexico (Recio, 2002). The United States has proven to be a huge source of their profit, where drug cartels earn approximately $15 billion to $38 billion a year from US consumers (Corchado, 2009). But the drug cartels not only count on US consumers for money, but for weaponry as well. About 90% of their weapons are believed to have originated in the United States (Corchado, 2009). Because of these connections, Mexico’s drug problem has become America’s problem as well. Distribution and both have increased due to transnational cartels and the help of a vast network of gangs across the US; there are at least 230 American cities have a presence of drug cartels (Corchado, 2009). But this does not mean that nothing is being done to help the situation, but with the power and strength that the drug cartels carry, it cannot be done quickly or painlessly. The Merida Initiative, created by former president George W. Bush, supports Mexico and other countries in Central America by providing them with money for their combat of threats in drug-trafficking, …show more content…
In regards to drug trafficking specifically at the moment when drugs and smugglers cross the border, three solutions were consoled. First, they could have secret military agents on both sides of the border to provide more accurate information about drug trafficking routes and locations of drug plantations (Recio, 2002). Second, they proposed that there should be more security to patrol and supervise the border. It was even brought up that the US military should deploy more troops to the border and use “whatever force is necessary to control the border zone” and that between the two countries they should allow US law enforcement personnel to board Mexican-flagged vessels suspected of transporting illicit drugs on the high seas (Brophy, 2008). Finally, it was suggested that the US and Mexico share “convict lists” so better quality information can be obtained (Recio, 2002). All of these solutions are easier said than done, hopefully one day a solution will appear and make an intense and long-lasting impact on both the United States and Mexico in their quest for freedom against drugs, crime, and
As stated previously, American Prohibition had huge and lasting impacts on Mexico and their production and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Mexico still continues to be a prime distributor of narcotics to the US; in the mid 1990s, it was estimated that about 70% of cocaine, 30% of heroin, 80% of marijuana in the US was provided by Mexico (Recio, 2002). The United States has proven to be a huge source of their profit, where drug cartels earn approximately $15 billion to $38 billion a year from US consumers (Corchado, 2009). But the drug cartels not only count on US consumers for money, but for weaponry as well. About 90% of their weapons are believed to have originated in the United States (Corchado, 2009). Because of these connections, Mexico’s drug problem has become America’s problem as well. Distribution and both have increased due to transnational cartels and the help of a vast network of gangs across the US; there are at least 230 American cities have a presence of drug cartels (Corchado, 2009). But this does not mean that nothing is being done to help the situation, but with the power and strength that the drug cartels carry, it cannot be done quickly or painlessly. The Merida Initiative, created by former president George W. Bush, supports Mexico and other countries in Central America by providing them with money for their combat of threats in drug-trafficking, …show more content…
In regards to drug trafficking specifically at the moment when drugs and smugglers cross the border, three solutions were consoled. First, they could have secret military agents on both sides of the border to provide more accurate information about drug trafficking routes and locations of drug plantations (Recio, 2002). Second, they proposed that there should be more security to patrol and supervise the border. It was even brought up that the US military should deploy more troops to the border and use “whatever force is necessary to control the border zone” and that between the two countries they should allow US law enforcement personnel to board Mexican-flagged vessels suspected of transporting illicit drugs on the high seas (Brophy, 2008). Finally, it was suggested that the US and Mexico share “convict lists” so better quality information can be obtained (Recio, 2002). All of these solutions are easier said than done, hopefully one day a solution will appear and make an intense and long-lasting impact on both the United States and Mexico in their quest for freedom against drugs, crime, and