Fairly recently, the news was buzzing with reports of “El Chapo”, Mexican drug lord, escaping from his cell at a high-security prison in Mexico through a mile-long tunnel. However, according to CNN analysts, rather than the tunnel, it was corruption that ultimately set him free (Shoichet). Government corruption has been a serious issue for Mexico since colonial times and without a proper solution, it won’t be getting better anytime soon. This widespread corruption affects the entire country of Mexico, and to some degree, the countries that frequently interact with Mexico such as the United States. It is an important issue because it has a major effect on Mexico’s economy and political progress. Corruption began in Mexico during Spanish rule; …show more content…
Ironically, politicians have revealed a lot of previous information on corruption to the public,“In the past, new (always PRI) officials would cover for their predecessors and expect those coming after to do the same. But with fierce electoral competition, incoming governments, especially those from opposing political parties, have a strong incentive to publicize the misdeeds (and particularly the overspending) of previous administrations” (O’Neil). America, while showing concern for the issue, seems to force the blame of this issue almost entirely on Mexico when the US is a major contributor to the problem as the country’s biggest consumer for drugs-- feeding the cartels and the corruption (Lomnitz).
Few solutions have been presented to solve the issue of corruption in Mexico because corruption is so deeply imbedded in their society. Solving it without the entire system changing drastically or even collapsing wouldn’t be simple (Weiner). After the recent incident regarding the missing students, Mexico claims to want to move towards a “mando único,” or single police command; others argue that the standards for police should be focused on instead, so that the justice system can be trusted
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This will lead to progressively more violence and poverty. In order to stop corruption, the people of Mexico have to want to work to stop it as well rather than just accepting it (Jones). In order to get the masses in support of ending corruption, more awareness needs to be spread about the negative causes of corruption. In Monterrey, Mexico, a bus called the “Corruptour” offers tours of corruption in Mexico (Agren). Using unique systems like this could be a key part in spreading information about corruption when the common media is closed-off. However, while sharing knowledge can be a big advantage in the battle against corruption, it likely won’t solve everything. A more forceful way of combatting this would be to tighten border security for drugs coming into the U.S. and guns going into Mexico. If this traffic can be successfully diminished, the cartels won’t get profit and will lose power. The legalization of some drugs, such as marijuana, could also assure that the cartels’ don’t make money but this solution comes with its own side-effects. Mexico’s corruption issue is a widespread and long-lasting problem but with cooperation and the right ideas, it can eventually be
The corruption in the government, one of the main problems in the majority of countries in the world, causing death, poverty and impunity in the life of the persons. People think that government corruption is just buying votes to win the elections, but this is just a little part of the corruption. The corruption of the government has been present for a long time ago, covering a great variety of problems in the society, like the stealing the money from the people, alliances with the narco, using the power just a favor of the politicians, increasing the prices of food, fuel and public services just to make more money. The people do not have the necessary services to survive and if the services are available they are expensive. In some parts of the world the government is colluding with the delinquency, in the case of Mexico, the government is colluded with the narco. The corruption in Mexico has permeated several segments of society like political, economic, and social. Also it has greatly affected the country’s legitimacy, transparency, accountability, and effectiveness; knowing the majority of the people of
Citizens take pride in their economic independence, mexico still values community in its cities and towns, its plazas and schools, and its work organizations. In Mexican culture the expectation of working and socializing together is a key component of society, and has a basis in the strong ties formed within the family. However, lack of faith in the government is a result of widespread political corruption. Even at the lowest levels, police officers readily accept bribes from those wishing to avoid the nuisance of a traffic ticket or a night in prison. In recent years, the government has begun addressing this corruption by reducing the number of state-owned businesses and calling on Mexicans to refuse to give bribes. This, however, has proven difficult, and the progress has been slow.
The United States agency of drugs have discovered that for all of the illegal drugs consumed in the nation has been transported by the Mexican cartels. “U.S. federal officials say that the mexican cartels operate in dozens of U.S. cities and analysts say they are moving to consolidate their control of the entire supply chain of illegals drugs”(Schwartz, 1). The government of the United States have been conducting the investigation to now if the cartels are north. Many big cities today have a piece of the cartel organization working there and also producing drugs to distribute within the city. According to the investigation done by the DEA and U.N officials “Mexican cartels have established command - and - control centers to orchestrate cocaine shipments by sea and air along the still wild caribbean coast with the help of local authorities”(Booth, 2). All though that the cartel are moving to the United States they are still leaving command center in mexico to conduct shipments by ground or any other shipments overseas. The cartel is able to transport such quantities of drugs with help of the local authorities and other corrupt government officials.
What’s more these cartels’ will also use the kidnaped women and girls for their own personal use. Nevertheless, the spread of human trafficking in Mexico has declined, yet the biggest problem has moved into the Mexican mountains, where remote areas have little or no authority at all. These areas are where the cartel usually pays off the authorities. But, in the case
Someone who is abusing the power that is given to him or her defines corruption, however, the word in its self is more than a simple idea; it is an intricate network. Since people’s views about ethical and moral behavior affect the way corruption is examined, the word has a slightly different meaning to each person. Additionally, misconduct across various societies is viewed differently due to social and cultural borders. The criminal justice system has had many instances where corruption had affected the outcome of a case and has inserted itself into the legal process.
The changes in key government leadership positions have had significant implications on Mexico 's drug trade business (Lupsha 1995). Take the example of one of Mexico 's leading drug traffickers, Juan Garcia Abrego who is widely known as the inventor of Mexican drug trafficking. Abrego 's drug smuggling operations flourished under former President Salina 's administration. When former President Zedillo entered office in December of 1994, Abrego lost the high-level protection provided under the former President Salina. Without this level of protection, Abregos influence in the drug trade industry decreased dramatically to the point of bankruptcy, in a traditional business sense. During this transformation, other well-connected cartels gained uncontested access to large drug trafficking corridors once controlled by Abrego. Despite Abregos deteriorating drug influence in Mexico, President Zedillo put a large bounty on him, making Abrego the most wanted drug smuggler in Mexico. Nevertheless, Abrego 's eventual capture was highly celebrated by the United States as a sign of Mexico 's increasing efforts and dedication to the elimination of illicit drug smuggling operations. In my opinion the example of Abrego 's lost influence and highly celebrated capture directly relates to the politic rhetoric and corruption that is associated with
Mexican Drug Cartels have been a problem for many years. The cartels are an organized crime organization and they don’t just deal drugs; they commit murders too. The Cartels origins are traced back to the Columbian Cali and Medellin mega-cartels who were responsible for the majority of drug trafficking into the United States. Crime has existed for many years but it surfaced more when Pablo Escobar was popular. Pablo Escobar was one the main transporters for cocaine throughout Mexico and the United States coming straight out of Columbia. Law enforcement tried to stop the drug trade but Escobar formed a relationship with Mexico-based traffickers who smuggled drugs into the United States. Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo also known as “The Godfather” of the cartels. Seeing how he established the Guadalajara Cartel, which is recognized as the first Mexican Cartel, and were the first to link up with Escobar and started the transportation of cocaine
Police corruption continues to exist in Mexico and largely influenced by the Mexican Cartels. (Lopez-M.G.A, 2000, P.79) contends that the militarization of Mexico City’s police force is confirmation of ‘changing and uneasy relationship between civilians and the military.’ It is apparent that anyplace the Mexican drugs cartels enclose the largest impact; they would in all likelihood own the local law enforcements, in fact, over a timeframe ‘police forces had become woven into the cartels’ (Ainslie.C.R, 2013, P.35). The president of Mexico Fox noted that police officers earn a salary of ‘$600 a month’s but are offered bribes in the thousands’, furthermore, he states that ‘1,100 police officers’ were fired from their jobs for corruption. (Congress,
Drug trafficking has plagued the U.S. and Mexican border for many years. The lack of cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican government has allowed millions of dollars worth of drugs to be smuggled over the border. However, recently the Mexican government extradited thirteen prisoners to the U.S showing it realizes that it can’t stop the drug problem on its own. One of the many factors that led the Mexican government to start extraditing was the escape of Mr. Guzman. This event embarrassed the Mexican government as it showed their inability to keep powerful drug traffickers contained. The sad truth is that the demand for drugs will always be present and people will always be able to supply them. Though governments try to enforce drug laws nationally, they can really only restrict the flow of drugs across the border. When Cormac McCarthy wrote the book No Country for Old Men, he tried to capture the brutality of the drug world, and the effect it can have.
In Mexico, the drug cartels are a big problem for the U.S. because when the cartel people get arrested they get sent up here so they can’t be broken out of jail. These transportations cost a lot of America’s money that we have to fund for. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is one of the biggest drug lord in all of Mexico. Mexico wants to send El Chapo up here to the U.S. so he can face the trial up here and go to jail here so he can’t be broken out again. This problem costs a lot of money that
Drug trafficking has become an increasingly growing problem in the world today. Illegal drug trade is a worldwide black market consisting of production, distribution, packaging, and sale of illegal substances. Although today’s "War on Drugs" is a modern phenomenon, drug problems have been a common problem throughout history. The market for illegal drugs is massive, when we consider the estimated global drug trade value is worth $321 billion (Vulliamy). The most drug trafficking happens on the border between Mexico and the United States. Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon said, “Our neighbor is the largest consumer of drugs in the world. And everybody wants to sell him drugs through our door and our window”
According to James Painter in his BBC News article “Latin America faces year of change”, Latin America suffers from social violence, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child pornography, lack of women’s rights, and little accountability over the region’s law makers and authorities which can lead to government corruption (para. 12). Government corruption can be defined as political power used by government leaders for private gain and to maintain their power as a government official. Most of the times these corrupt politicians in Latin America say they are accomplishing apprehension of criminals to the best of their abilities when, in reality, they commit the same multitude of crimes. Politicians are able to maintain their power as a result of
Over the past years, Mexico has experienced extreme changes due to the violent drug wars. Violence has presented itself in every neighborhood, every street corner, and even in the schools. Chalk outlines are seen drawn on various streets of homicide scenes. Thousands of people have lost their lives in the hands of drug traffickers. Life itself in Mexico, has taken a change for the worse. One may ask what the reasons are for this wave of violence. The most logical answer, of course, is to blame the criminals. It is the drug lords who are smuggling, transporting, and selling these drugs. They should be the ones held responsible, right? The answer to this question is deeply rooted in the history of corruption in the Mexican Government. The
With powerful and rich people controlling the government it is safe to say money is the true sign of power. Sadly that corruption causes fatalities and loss of jobs. No one wants to live in a country in which people with guns control the area and people who want peace have to live in fear. Would you want your daughter to be targeted by Mexican drug lords because they thought she was attractive? No! That is why the people want the government to step up. To no longer live in fear and finally be happy. There can never be peace if there is no law and with corruption in the police force evil will take over. “The objective of the National Anti-Corruption System is to coordinate the efforts of all Mexican governmental bodies―at the federal, state, and municipal levels―that are involved in anti corruption enforcement. These laws apply to both public officials and private parties, including companies and their directors, officers, and employees.” Hopefully the government stays true with its words and Mexico can finally become that safe and beautiful country it used to
Politics are still corrupt and scandal-ridden, with parties often focused more on individuals than on programmes for action. And while progress has been made, the Mexican state is still far from comfortable with the concepts of accountability and transparency.