Topic and apa review of literture narctics - Essay Example

Also, massive corruption and inadequate legislation on drug trafficking have perpetrated drug smuggling in the country. With improving law enactment in regions of operation of the cartels, the immense power, which the cartels had in 1990s, is slowly diminishing. However, Mexico still remains a den for drug barons and most of the drug cartels are still in operation despite incarcerations and killings of their founders. Mexican Drug Cartels Introduction The drug cartels have been in constant pursuit of regional control against forces of the Mexican government.

The government focus has been to exterminate the gruel murders that result from powerful drug cartels duels. The Mexican government has for long focused on ending the fight between drug moguls rather than stopping drug trafficking, particularly into the U.S. The Mexican Drug Cartels can be traced back to several decades ago. However, they have been increasingly gaining power since the demise of Colombia’s Cali and Medellin cartels during 1990s (The National, 2011). Currently, the Mexican Drug Cartels dominate illicit drug market and control about 90 percent of illegal drugs smuggled into the U.S. this paper explores The Mexican Drug cartels and the reasons for their existence.

Drug Production and Trafficking Marijuana, heroine, cocaine and methamphetamine, are the main drugs that drug barons smuggle across the border between the U.S. and Mexico (Shanty & Mishra, 2008). Marijuana and opium are grown in Mexico in plenty. According to Shanty and Mishra (2008), the quantity of marijuana supplied to the U.S. at one time from Mexico was approximately 95 percent of the overall marijuana consumed in the U.S. Presently, Mexico smuggles less than half the marijuana supplied to the United States.

However, almost all cocaine that is smuggled into the United States first goes through Mexico before reaching the U.S. Most of the cocaine transported to the U.S. are airlifted or shipped from Colombia into Mexico before being smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border (Shanty & Mishra, 2008). “About one-third of all heroine that enters the United States is developed from opium poppy plants grown in Mexico” (Shanty & Mishra, 2008, p.332). Mexico also established an attractive market for methamphetamine manufactured from precursor chemicals, which the Mexican government does not strictly regulate their importation.

The chemicals are imported from countries like India, China and the U.S. The vast number of individuals, who cross the border into the U.S. daily, complicates the extent to which the government can control the flow of illegal drugs into the country (Grillo, 2012). For instance, approximately 295 million people, 88 million automobiles and 4.5 million trucks cross the U.S-Mexico boundary each year. Out of this estimation, just 10 vehicles are stopped and less this number is checked (Shanty & Mishra, 2008).

Also, massive corruption among government officials encourage drug trafficking in the country (Grillo, 2012; Klabin, 2013). In 1980s, drug smuggling was facilitated by drug consortiums that offered services to Colombian cartels for a fee of about $1,000-$2,000 for every kilogram of cocaine (Shanty & Mishra, 2008). Owing to the high level of risks in the trade, the syndicates demanded for a large chunk of profit share. Within a short span, the Mexican drug cartels were getting up to more than half the profits generated from cocaine trade.

This lucrative gain enabled the Mexican drug cartels to take over as chief suppliers of cocaine. They also