Transnational Networks

Notes on the UNODC's 2010 World Drug Report

    This past week the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual “World Drug Report”, which contained some interesting insights on the global illicit drug markets.

Mexico: Where the Dark Fields of the Republic Roll on Through the Night

Another day on the killing streets of Juaréz (Source: http://publicintelligence.net)

    When Felipe Calderón won 2006's contentious elections, he pledged to bring war to the drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)* that were corrupting, corroding and murdering their way towards immense riches. Most local police forces in the country have long made their choice of plata o plomo (silver or lead; the bribe or the bullet), as have the state and federal police forces. The army, meanwhile, is somehow considered less corrupt but are renowned for their brutal torture and kidnappings.

    Calderon has deployed numerous federal police and soldiers to border regions and areas facing high levels of drug production or trafficking. As of late 2009, at least 40,000 have been dispersed and it is likely that more have followed in recent months. But the violence, mayhem and murders have not stopped. In fact, since deploying government forces the situation has gotten much worse. The numbers below might appear to speak for themselves, but really they do not. This list of ejecuciones (DTO-related murders) must be considered indicative, as the Mexican army and police forces also murder, but for a Mexican reporter to tell this would result in his or her death – so it is not reported. If one is lucky, an army murder is classified as “cartel-related”, and is included.