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. Its aim is to provide readers an introductory yet elaborate text on the illegal drug problem in the region. 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. Together, they present a comprehensive overview of the major trends in drug trafficking and organized crime in the early twentyfirst century. 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. Latin america drug trafficking to the us and why making.
Transnational crime remains a particularly serious problem in latin america, with most issues connected to the drug trade. 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. Essay on mexicanlatin american war on drugs and trafficking. History latin america view categories history latin america sort title. The history of central american gangs and drug trafficking is a complex one filled with murder and extortion. Drug dollars, killing fields and the new politics of latin america, released in the united states today and published by bloomsbury. To battle drugtraffickers, argentina takes a risk and uses military. Since the early 1970s when the consumption of drugs became more popular in the united states, drug producing regions in south america saw the opportunity of importing cocaine to the united states as the revenues obtained were superlative compared to. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas today. However, while these highly visible forms of public violence dominate headlines, they are neither the most common form of drug violence nor simply. The journalist ioan grillo goes inside the hyperviolent drug cartels of latin america in an except from his new book gangster warlords. So for the first time in argentine history, drug trafficking has become a major political issue.
Drug trafficking united nations office on drugs and crime. 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. The 2015 eucelac action plan as well as the 20142020 multiannual indicative regional programme for latin america include migration management and. The trafficking of illicit drugs is a signature latin american contribution to our.
Their role may have appeared miniscule compared to that of their. The shifting terrain of latin american drug trafficking. Inside the drug cartels destroying latin america time. Eduardo saenz rovner argues that cubas historically well. Drug trades in latin america latin american studies oxford. Gang members are given inferior jobs and serve as hired muscle for drug cartels. Ralph espach is an analyst and director of the latin american affairs program at cnas center for strategic studies, in alexandria, virginia. Gil kerlikowske talked about obama administration efforts in combating drug. From opium to marijuana to cocaine, a variety of substances have been illegally imported, sold and distributed throughout u. 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. Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Archival historical research on trafficking or drugs in latin america has not, to date, reached the stage to merit a true synthesis. Human trafficking is reportedly the third largest illicit industry in latin america, behind drug and arms trafficking.
On the study of drug trafficking and organized crime networks in latin america and the caribbean in the twentyfirst century. Drug trade in mexico oxford research encyclopedia of. 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. It focuses predominantly on the main urban areas of argentina and brazil while placing them in a broader regional context. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas today bagley, bruce m, rosen. Mackey this paper analyzes the ongoing drug war being waged between mexican drug trafficking organizations dtos, their rivals, and the u. While men have predominantly run drug trafficking organizations dtos, women have participated in them since the 1920s.
The enduring legacy of reagans drug war in latin america. The war on drugs and its impact on latin america essay. Continuing into the 1980s, the united states instated stricter policy pertaining to drug transit through sea. Drug trafficking in the united states dates back to the 19th century. Gladys mccormicks research interests include the political and economic history of latin america and the caribbean, corruption, drug trafficking, and political violence. Gladys mccormick, associate professor, history maxwell. 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. The international drug trade from latin american states is having an impact on a global scale. 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. Rather, he makes it a habit of telling me, the reader, his process of gathering information. Drug trafficking, smuggling, and gambling in cuba from the 1920s to the revolution latin america in translationen traduccionem traducao first edition edition. 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. 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. There are many aspects of the drug war from mexico and other latin american states which. And our solutions are the same futile nonsolutionsbuild more prisons. The trafficking of drugs along with corruptness and murder is an international conflict that is being fought daily. These menand often daring young womenanxiously pursued by u. Illegal drugs, drug trafficking and violence in latin america.
Drug trafficking, criminal violence and the state in. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the americas. These efforts became the primary focus of the reagan administrations drug war in. Drug abuse and addiction has been a social problem in america for nearly a century. The fight against drug trafficking and crime in the. I know this because, in his new book, gangster warlord. Maritime drug trafficking in latin america wikipedia. An impoverished, underemployed population is a ready source of recruits. Popular drug trafficking books showing 150 of 61 the cobra hardcover by. Americas fight against drug trafficking in central america and the caribbean in the 1980s and 1990s shifted the geographic. Latin americas long history of adaptive drug production and distribution and persistent u. 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. This book presents a broad overview of the social, political and economic causes and effects of drug trafficking in latin america. Drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in the.
Drug dollars, killing fields, and the new politics of latin america, he spends about 350 pages telling me that hes a brave dude. 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. The war on drugs in the americas brings together the history of the war on drugs in. Often people believe that gangs and cartels are the same, but they are different. What may be surprising is that many of these illegal drugs were first introduced by doctors as legal overthecounter and prescription medications. Latin america is a crucial geographic zone for drug production and trafficking.
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. Counterdrug programs congressional research service summary drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and u. Latin america and the caribbean, 19th and 20th century mexico. The shifting terrain of latin american drug trafficking origins. Maritime drug trafficking in latin america is the primary mean of transportation of illegal drugs produced in this region to global consumer markets. Illegal drugs, drug trafficking and violence in latin.
Not to mention the fact that twothirds of all the non drug offenses in america are committed by people high on dope or alcohol. Pdf the bush administrations andean drug strategy in historical. 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. As a result, there was an influx in drugtrafficking across the. How illicit trade made america in 1971, richard nixon declared a war on drugs. Cocaine is the primary illegal drug smuggled through maritime routes because all of its cultivation and production it is settled in the andean region of south america. A global perspective cambridge university press, 2010. Latest from latin america in the wall street journal.
This violence was one of the most tragic, unintended outcomes of american antidrug efforts. 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. This allowed the united states to intervene in activities related to illegal drug transport in latin america. The coca cultivation is concentrated in the andes of south america, particularly in colombia, peru and bolivia. 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 rise of femicide and women in drug trafficking coha.
But it is the long history of drug production and distribution in latin americaand the enduringly strong demand for narcotics in the united statesthat best helps to explain why the war on drugs has resulted in so few battles won and has come at such a great cost both in money and human lives. He doesnt overtly say hey, dimas, im a brave dude, of course. This presentation analyzes the recent evolution of drug trafficking and its associated violence in latin american metropolitan areas. The andean countries of colombia, peru and bolivia are the worlds main cocaine.
To battle drugtraffickers, argentina takes a risk and. 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 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. Drug trafficking has increased the crime rate in latin america, creating problems for the prison systems and unleashing a phenomenon known as femicide.
Unodc is continuously monitoring and researching global illicit drug markets in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of. 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 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. This analysis is conducted through the lens of drug control. Latin americas success and struggles in fighting human. A very useful primer for anyone trying to keep up with the everevolving relationship between drug enforcement and drug trafficking.
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