Mexico and the Drug Trade
This lecture derived primarily from Luis Astorga, "Drug Trafficking in Mexico: A first General Assement"
I. Early History
A. Opiates, marijuana trafficked from Mexico from late 19th century
1. Poppy (source of opiates) became illegal in 1926, marijuana in 1920
2. This was later than U.S., meaning, for a time, growers were legal there, illegal here
B. The Growers
1. Opium became important in Sinaloa early
2. The Sinaloa growers (gomeros) became the leaders in drug trafficking in 1920s
3. Marijuana became important in the south - Puebla, Tlaxcala, Guerrero
C. Anti-drug efforts and corruption
1. In 1920s, anti-narcotic agents were sometimes paid in drugs they seized
2. State governors became involved early on
a. Drug traffickers became incorporated into PRI power structures
b. PRI had tolerated a level of corruption as a way of buying off governors, local politicians
c. Protecting and participating in drug traffic considered normal part of governor's profitable enterprises
d. Remember, trade was far smaller and less important than today
II. Mid-Century Drug Trade
A. Shift to national enforcement
1. Prior to 1947, drug laws had been in local hands, in national health ministry
2. U.S., partly as a result of increased drug use in military during WWII, brought pressure for better enforcement
3. In 1947, drug enforcement become job of national police and military
4. As a result, they become government's direct link to the traffickers, both for enforcement and corruption
B. Trade becomes increasingly violent in 1950s
1. Previously, trade had been family, community affairs - problems settled on family or community basis
2. With growth, competition becomes more fierce, more violent
3. But violence only between drug traffickers themselves, or between them and police - not outsiders
C. Enforcement focuses on big crackdowns
1. Government cracks down on Sinaloa fields in 1960s
2. This only results in poppy fields moving to Jalisco, Nayarit, and Michoacan
D. Cocaine becomes major part of picture
1. Prior to 1959, Cuba major transshipment point for Columbian cocaine and marijauna
2. Cuban Revolution ends all that
3. Columbian shipment shifts to Mexico
4. By mid 1960s there are over 300 clandestine airfields in north Mexico
5. This means Mexico is on board for cocaine trade when it explodes in 1970s, 80s
6. Mexico also exporting 3.5 to 5 tons of marijuana to USA every week
E. Violence escalates further
1. As trade grows, becomes possible to get rich even faster
2. Thus traffickers are increasingly younger and more confident
3. This leads to increased violence - starting to spill over to people not involved in trade
III. Operation Condor
A. Massive effort to end drug trade in northern states in mid-1970s
B. Chemicals used to defoliate poppy and marijuana fields
C. Results in environmental disasters, human rights abuses
D. Lead official had participated in the Tlateloco massacre of 1968
E. Most powerful growers, traffickers move to Jalisco
F. Traffickers more powerful than ever with cocaine money, really big since 1975
IV. The Enrique Camarena case
A. Camarena was a US DEA agent, kidnapped an killed in Mexico in 1985
B. Was investigating enormous marijuana operation
1. His death pushed US to reveal what it knew about Mexican drug corruption
2. US government had know about corruption since 1910 - but now gloves were off
2. US issued indictments against high Mexican officials
3. US accused Mexican Attorney General of complicity
4. This also led to US trying (and acquitting) in 1990 one suspect who was kidnapped from Mexico by bounty hunters - put real strain on US-Mexico relations
V. Contemporary Issues
A. The Military
1. The Mexican Army has played a key role in enforcement since 1948
2. USA began providing assistance to military for this since 1970s
3. Cooperation has increased since 1982, when Reagan declared drug trafficking to be a national security issue
4. Like US, Mexico now uses language of "drug war"
5. Critics accuse Mexico of using US aid o crack down on enemies of government, like Zapatistas
B. Money laundering
1. Became an issue in 1986, when US passed law requiring all money transfers of more than $10,000 to be reported to government
2. International agreements in 1988 increased the pressure
3. Mexico passed more stringent laws in 1996 under US pressure
4. Both countries have accused each other of being to easy on money laundering
5. Has resulted in increased tension between governments
C. Drug use in Mexico
1. In 1988, drug use in Mexico was less than 10% of that of USA
2. Use has increased since then, particularly in Mexico City and northern states
3. Lower prices in US and greater supply has led to more marketing in Mexico
4. Increased border check after September 11, 2001, has resulted in increased drug use in Mexico because now harder to smuggle drugs in