This presentation analyzes the recent evolution of drug trafficking and its associated violence in latin american metropolitan areas. From opium to marijuana to cocaine, a variety of substances have been illegally imported, sold and distributed throughout u. Human trafficking is reportedly the third largest illicit industry in latin america, behind drug and arms trafficking. A global perspective cambridge university press, 2010. Over the last few decades, drug trafficking organizations in latin america became infamous for their shocking public crimes, from narcoterrorist assaults on the colombian political system in the 1980s to the more recent wave of beheadings in mexico. These efforts became the primary focus of the reagan administrations drug war in. Popular drug trafficking books showing 150 of 61 the cobra hardcover by. Drug abuse and addiction has been a social problem in america for nearly a century. Counterdrug programs congressional research service summary drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and u. Drug trafficking has increased the crime rate in latin america, creating problems for the prison systems and unleashing a phenomenon known as femicide. However, when cia pilot eugene hasenfus was shot down over nicaragua by the sandinistas, documents aboard the plane revealed many of the cias activities in latin america, and the cias connections with noriega became a public relations liability for the u. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the.
Together, they present a comprehensive overview of the major trends in drug trafficking and organized crime in the early twentyfirst century. The international drug trade from latin american states is having an impact on a global scale. He has authored and coauthored several books, including private environmental regimes in developing countries, latin america in the new international system, combating corruption in latin america, andsecurity in the caribbean basin. It focuses predominantly on the main urban areas of argentina and brazil while placing them in a broader regional context. History latin america view categories history latin america sort title. Gil kerlikowske talked about obama administration efforts in combating drug. We were in the amazon basin of northern ecuador, where i had gone to learn more about wildlife trafficking in latin america. The trafficking of drugs along with corruptness and murder is an international conflict that is being fought daily. Eduardo saenz rovner argues that cubas historically well.
The history of central american gangs and drug trafficking is a complex one filled with murder and extortion. Latin americas long history of adaptive drug production and distribution and persistent u. This book presents a broad overview of the social, political and economic causes and effects of drug trafficking in latin america. The trafficking of illicit drugs is a signature latin american contribution to our. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas. 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. Unodc response to illicit drug trafficking, regional initiatives in central america.
To battle drugtraffickers, argentina takes a risk and. Drug dollars, killing fields, and the new politics of latin america, he spends about 350 pages telling me that hes a brave dude. This paper explores the history of the drug trade between latin american and the united states, the failure of both local and united states policy to address drug production and trafficking operations, and the detriment to the natural environment of latin america as a result. Drug trafficking in the united states dates back to the 19th century. There are many aspects of the drug war from mexico and other latin american states which. And while the united states devoted more resources to eradication, interdiction, and the extradition of traffickers, the level of drug violence in latin america and the u. The journalist ioan grillo goes inside the hyperviolent drug cartels of latin america in an except from his new book gangster warlords. 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 america is a crucial geographic zone for drug production and trafficking.
The trafficking of illicit drugs is a signature latin american contribution to our globalized world, and today colombia and mexico play the paramount roles in terms of production and distribution. This book describes the main patterns and trends of drug trafficking in latin america and analyzes its political, economic and social effects on several countries over the last twenty years. A very useful primer for anyone trying to keep up with the everevolving relationship between drug enforcement and drug trafficking. Maritime drug trafficking in latin america wikipedia. Drug dollars, killing fields, and the new politics of latin america will be available on jan. While cocaine, heroin, and marijuana have long figured as primary trafficked products, in the recent past drug trafficking organizations dtos have increased shipments of methamphetamines. Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. He doesnt overtly say hey, dimas, im a brave dude, of course. Pdf the bush administrations andean drug strategy in historical. This analysis is conducted through the lens of drug control. Continuing into the 1980s, the united states instated stricter policy pertaining to drug transit through sea. So for the first time in argentine history, drug trafficking has become a major political issue. Gladys mccormick, associate professor, history maxwell. Gladys mccormicks research interests include the political and economic history of latin america and the caribbean, corruption, drug trafficking, and political violence.
Drug trades in latin america latin american studies oxford. Transnational crime remains a particularly serious problem in latin america, with most issues connected to the drug trade. Bagley, professor and former associate dean of the graduate school of international studies at the university of miami, is coauthor of international relations in latin america. While men have predominantly run drug trafficking organizations dtos, women have participated in them since the 1920s. Ralph espach is an analyst and director of the latin american affairs program at cnas center for strategic studies, in alexandria, virginia. Latin america and the caribbean, 19th and 20th century mexico. Drug trafficking and organized crime in latin america and the caribbean in the twentyfirst. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Drug trade in mexico oxford research encyclopedia of. The andean countries of colombia, peru and bolivia are the worlds main cocaine. 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. This violence was one of the most tragic, unintended outcomes of american antidrug efforts.
Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas today bagley, bruce m, rosen. Drug trafficking united nations office on drugs and crime. However, while these highly visible forms of public violence dominate headlines, they are neither the most common form of drug violence nor simply. A comprehensive history of crime and corruption in cuba, the cuban connection challenges the common view that widespread poverty and geographic proximity to the united states were the prime reasons for soaring rates of drug trafficking, smuggling, gambling, and prostitution in the tumultuous decades preceding the cuban revolution. Latin america drug trafficking to the us and why making. Not to mention the fact that twothirds of all the non drug offenses in america are committed by people high on dope or alcohol. Essay on mexicanlatin american war on drugs and trafficking. The war on drugs and its impact on latin america essay. To battle drugtraffickers, argentina takes a risk and uses military.
These menand often daring young womenanxiously pursued by u. On the study of drug trafficking and organized crime networks in latin america and the caribbean in the twentyfirst century. Knowledge of drug trafficking and the contras the national security archive obtained the handwritten notebooks of oliver north, the national security council aide who helped run the contra war and other reagan administration covert operations, through a freedom of information act lawsuit filed in 1989. The shifting terrain of latin american drug trafficking. Supplyside policies essentially placed the responsibility for domestic drug use on the countries supplying the drugs, many of which complained that the united states was blaming them for its social ills. Though the profits from trafficking are lower in latin america than on any other continent apart from africa, the numbers affected are just as significant, as louise shelley points out in human trafficking.
Latest from latin america in the wall street journal. Their role may have appeared miniscule compared to that of their. At its most elemental, it seeks to bring prerevolutionary cuba into the historical literature on drug trafficking in latin americaa useful and important endeavorwhile adding to our knowledge of gambling and other vice on the island during the same period. Often people believe that gangs and cartels are the same, but they are different. Mackey this paper analyzes the ongoing drug war being waged between mexican drug trafficking organizations dtos, their rivals, and the u. An impoverished, underemployed population is a ready source of recruits. The 2015 eucelac action plan as well as the 20142020 multiannual indicative regional programme for latin america include migration management and.
The fight against drug trafficking and crime in the. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas today. How illicit trade made america in 1971, richard nixon declared a war on drugs. The shifting terrain of latin american drug trafficking origins. The santo domingo pact sicaunodc mechanism is an interregional programme central america and the caribbean which aims to enhance policy coordination in the field of drug trafficking and organized crime. Archival historical research on trafficking or drugs in latin america has not, to date, reached the stage to merit a true synthesis. Rather, he makes it a habit of telling me, the reader, his process of gathering information. Its aim is to provide readers an introductory yet elaborate text on the illegal drug problem in the region.
What may be surprising is that many of these illegal drugs were first introduced by doctors as legal overthecounter and prescription medications. Inside the drug cartels destroying latin america time. Americas fight against drug trafficking in central america and the caribbean in the 1980s and 1990s shifted the geographic. Drug dollars, killing fields and the new politics of latin america, released in the united states today and published by bloomsbury. Gang members are given inferior jobs and serve as hired muscle for drug cartels. This allowed the united states to intervene in activities related to illegal drug transport in latin america. The enduring legacy of reagans drug war in latin america. As a result, there was an influx in drugtrafficking across the. Illegal drugs, drug trafficking and violence in latin america.
Before anyone heard of colombian narcotraficantes, a new class of international cocaine traffickers was born between 1947 and 1964, led by littleknown peruvians, bolivians, chileans, cubans, mexicans, brazilians, and argentines. Drug trafficking, criminal violence and the state in. Latin americas success and struggles in fighting human. I know this because, in his new book, gangster warlord. Illegal drugs, drug trafficking and violence in latin. Drug trafficking, smuggling, and gambling in cuba from the 1920s to the revolution latin america in translationen traduccionem traducao first edition edition. And our solutions are the same futile nonsolutionsbuild more prisons. The coca cultivation is concentrated in the andes of south america, particularly in colombia, peru and bolivia.
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