Narco-Terrorism Effects On Panama

Drug cartels have arisen as a major crisis for the future in the Americas. Individuals indulge themselves on drugs for many reasons such as tradition, attempting to escape poverty, and generating revenue for rebellious activities. Drug trafficking has proven to be ludacris, with the increasing involvement of corrupt government officials in their distribution. The UN has stated the approximate estimation of profits of drug trade is roughly around $150 billion alone in the Americas, which accounts slightly less than 5% GDP. Currently the most common way of drug transport is land through Central American countries like Mexico, and it eventually crosses over the border to the United States.

Former President Fernando Belaúnde Terry of Peru first defined the term “narco-terrorism” in 1983. The term was first created to describe terrorist-type attacks against Peru’s anti-narcotics police. President Terry used to the word “narco-terrorism” to attempt to describe the narcotics trafficker’s use of violence and intimidation to influence the policies of the government. However, the word narco-terrorism has more than just one definition. According to the DEA, narco-terrorism is defined as, “participation of groups or associated individuals in taxing, providing security for, otherwise aiding or abetting drug trafficking endeavors in an effort to further, or fund, terrorist activities.” However, the latest definition of the term

In the last decades, narco trafficking and organized crime had emerged as the main security threats in Latin America. Deviant globalization increase their power by establishing connections with similar organizations in other parts of the world, like cocaine distribution networks, for example. This perceived danger increases the pressure on the governments for effective solutions, and some of them consider that these problems had overwhelmed the capabilities of the local police. Consequently, the intervention of military forces would be necessary to secure the stability of the countries. However, the use of force as the only solution is the outcome of a misunderstanding of the root causes that generates them. This paper presents the research for a general pattern in the region that is helpful to understand how the civil society perceives the failures of governance and how the networks of illegal activities exploit this perception.

Terrorism, while difficult to define, still has a few key features that are mostly agreed upon. These features will be explored in depth through a discussion of the definition. Following the definition of terrorism, the paper will examine the cartels in Mexico. Their history, their goals, and their strategies will all be important for determining whether they should fall under the umbrella of terrorism. Finally, this paper will argue that the cartels in Mexico display the characteristics of terror and terrorist organizations and they should be considered and classified

Multinational character of drug trade requires law enforcement being close to the source of the drug production. Given that many local governments in drug producing countries are weak and lack resources, an outside power, like DEA is necessary to train local law enforcement, cooperate with them, and provide intelligence to address the problem. Moreover, expansive character of drug trafficking networks and the traffickers opening new routes to accommodate new markets might complicate interception of the drugs as they leave the country of production. Therefore, DEA’s operations might have more success being in such countries and try to intercept the drugs before they leave their countries of

Since the 1900’s Mexico has been run by several drug cartels, and leaders. These drug cartels have been increasing their territory, murder tolls, and power. The cartels have started to take over the government and Mexico has been becoming known as a lost state. Drug cartels are rising to power because of the lack of government, and structure which also brings fear to all the regular citizens throughout Mexico. Many citizens regularly get murdered for lying to the cartel, informing the authorities about the cartels, or antagonizing the cartels. Although Mexican drug cartels, or drug trafficking organizations, have existed for several decades, their influence has increased since the demise of the Colombian Cali in the 1990s. Mexican drug cartels now dominate the wholesale illicit drug market and in 2007 controlled 90% of the cocaine entering the United States. Arrests of key cartel leaders, has led to increasing drug violence as cartels fight for control of the trafficking routes into the United States. As violence levels rise so do tension levels.

Introduction I. Let’s say you’re with friends in Mexico on summer break and you’re staying in one of the many beautiful beaches but little do you know that the area that you’re visiting is controlled and monitored by a ruthless drug cartel. II. My name is Luis De La Cruz III. I am here today to inform you about the three major reasons why drug cartels are dangerous.

Like many other countries in Latin America and across the globe, Peru is no stranger to the economic and social impacts of illicit drug trade. However, unlike most other countries in the region like Colombia, Peru does not experience a high rate or organized crime or violence surrounding the drug trade. Although violence is minimal, the growth of cocoa and the production of cocaine is a massive industry within the country, creating an interesting dynamic between the people of Peru, those involved in the drug trade, and the Peruvian Government. The drug trade in Peru has been fueled by the geography, structure of the criminal groups involved, perceived corruption of the military and police forces, and an ineffective and overcrowded prison system.

Unfortunately for the illicit drug market, disrupt in the supply chain does not just occur during production, but can also be intercepted during transportation. According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (2015), “the U.S. Coast Guard, seized one submersible and two semi-submersible vessel for transporting drugs [from Colombia]” (138). The threat of confiscation without compensation, due to drugs being a part of an illicit economy, compels traffickers to utilize more covert and inventive methods in the movement of substances. An example of a preventative measure commonly applied by organized crime groups is a monetary bribe provided to customs officers for purposefully overlooking drug smuggling across country borders, “higher levels of income inequality are also known to provoke drug trafficking and corruption… members of marginalized groups may view corruption and involvement in criminal organizations as a viable way to improve their lives” (The Drug Problem and Organized Crime, Illicit Financial Flows, Corruption, and Terrorism 33). Comparatively to members of the illicit narcotics market, individuals a part of the criminal justice system may succumb to bribery for financial gain as a result of perceived income inequality. Consequently of globalization, an enhancement of

Drug trafficking is a major issue in Colombia, causing many other issues across the country. Many people involved in the drug trade including civilians are being killed, kidnapped, and injured over this problem. Over the years, the government has started cracking down on the growers, producers, and sellers but so far, they have only caught minor criminals. The government is making agreements with neighboring countries and finding alternative uses for the crops to slow down the production of drugs. Despite all of the efforts being made to stop drug trafficking, violence, and production the cartels are still thriving throughout Colombia.

The government has made some gains, but at a heavy price. A total of 34,612 people have died in drug-related killings in Mexico in the first four years (Siddique). Most of these killing are between cartel rivals fighting for the control of territories. There are five cartels operating in Mexico: the Sinaloa, the Gulf, Juarez, Tijuana, the Zetas. The major cartels are the Gulf, Sinaloa and Juarez (Cook 21). Many of these cartels have joined together forming powerful alliances known as the “Federation” (Cook 17). The cartels work together, but they remain independent organizations.

The effect of the FARC’s narco-terrorist objectives have proven detrimental for the destabilized Colombian government, economic instability, terrorism, exploitation, extortion and tax evasion has produce a vast underground economy (McLean, 2005). Further, actions implemented by the United States, at periods has only heightened tensions, cocoa eradication fashioned a damaging second wave of negative consequences as unintended alliances were formed, economies disrupted and primary income sources were destroyed (McLean, 2005). Alas, the Colombian governments failures to procure a legitimate sovereign existence has funnelled them towards the birth of a narco-state, evolving out of governmental and financial corruption. Though weak governments are unable to prevent the procurement of these organisations, FARC resistance towards a legitimate government, resulted in the involvement of the U.S (Haupt, 2009). Extraterritorial interference from the U.S destabilized Colombia’s international stature. Colombia’s tenuous failures to exercise effective sovereignty upon the

The problem encountered within my research is the connection between Drug Trafficking Organizations and Transnational Terror Organizations. The problem this poses is the potential threat to the United States in terms of the two organizations working in conjunction with one another and what this would entail for national security. What remains to be seen within the research question is how the two are defined or if there are even connections between the two. Within the articles of research, there are two different theories that are seen. One is the theory that the Drug trafficking organizations are in partnership with terror groups for drug smuggling as well as providing drugs. The other is that Terror groups are engaged in business with drug

A Narco History: How the United States and Mexico Created the “Mexican Drug War” analyzes Mexico’s modern history and how the country has seen a dramatic rise of drugs and consequently an increase in the number of people associated with drug cartels and also fighting between drug organizations resulting in bloodbaths all around Mexico. The Mexican government has declared a war on drugs, this period has seen the deaths of thousands of people that has put the country in a crisis state. Mexico 's drug world has been greatly influenced by the United States, primarily due to sharing a bored but also people in the United States depend on the drugs from Mexico.

(2) Development of a comprehensive INTERPOL-UNODC best-practices and lesson learnt platform in which Member States can share vital information that will be crucial to future operations and initiatives catering to the drug trade. (3) Strengthening and mainstreaming capacity and confidence building through joint exercises by drug-enforcement and police agencies of Member States through the UNODC and INTERPOL. (4) Increasing focus on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering institutions and campaigns to deter organized-crime that promulgates the illicit trade of drugs. (5) Building a stronger network through financial institutions to share information instrumental to tracing the cash-flow acquired by organized-crime through the trade of drugs. Bangladesh reaffirms the critical role of transit and manufacturing states in providing first-hand knowledge in drug trafficking, money laundering, organized crime and other pressing issues that prove to exacerbate the Illicit trade of drugs. Bangladesh calls upon the International Community to further collaborate in their resolve in the pacification of the Illegal Drug Trade. Bangladesh believes that addressing the concerns through stronger cooperation and participation of all Member States and relevant actors will yield to positive decisive results.