Drug cartel
A drug cartel is any criminal organization developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking organizations reached an agreement to coordinate the production and distribution of cocaine. Since that agreement was broken up, drug cartels are no longer actually cartels, but the term stuck and it is now popularly used to refer to any criminal narcotics related organization, such as those in Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, South Korea, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Japan, Italy, France, United States, Colombia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Israel, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The basic structure of a drug cartel is as follows:
- Falcons (Spanish: Halcones): Considered the "eyes and ears" of the streets, the 'falcons' are the lowest rank in any drug cartel. They are responsible for supervising and reporting the activities of the police, the military and their rival groups.[1]
- Hitmen (Spanish: Sicarios): The armed group within the drug cartel that are responsible for carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, thefts, extortions, operating protection rackets, and defending their 'plaza' (turf) from rival groups and the military.[2][3]
- Lieutenants (Spanish: Lugartenientes): The second highest position in the drug cartel organization that are responsible for supervising the hitmen and falcons within their own territory. They are allowed to carry out low-profile executions without permission from their bosses.[4]
- Drug lords (Spanish: Capos): The highest position in any drug cartel that are responsible for supervising the entire drug industry, appointing territorial leaders, making alliances, and planning high-profile executions.[5]
It is worth noting that there are other operating groups within the drug cartels. For example, the drug producers and suppliers,[6] although not considered in the basic structure, are critical operators of any drug cartel, along with the financiers and money launderers.[7][8][9] In addition, the arms suppliers operate in a completely different circle,[10] and are technically not considered part of the cartel’s logistics.
America
United States
Map of violent crime per 100,000 people in the USA by state in 2004
The United States of America is the world's largest consumer of cocaine[11] and other illegal drugs.[12][13][14][15] This is a list of American criminal organizations involved in illegal drug traffic, drug trade and other related crimes in the United States:
- Aryan Brotherhood
- American Mafia
- Nazi Lowriders
- Irish Mob
- Jewish-American organized crime
- Israeli mafia[16]
- Black Guerilla Family
- Black Mafia Family
- Crips
- Bloods
- Gangster Disciples
- Vice Lords
- Zoe Pound
- Texas Syndicate[17]
- LA Eme[18]
- MS-13[19]
- Nuestra Familia
- Logan Heights Gang[20]
- 18th Street gang
- Sureños 13
- Norteños 14
- Mexikanemi
- PEN1
- Bandidos
- Pagan's
- Vagos MC
- Mongols MC
- Outlaws MC
- The Devil's Rejects (The People's Syndicate)
Other American organizations involved (or that have been involved) in drug trade or traffic. It is worth mentioning, however, that this does not apply for the whole of the institutions mentioned below, just a selected few within them:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection[21][22]
- United States Immigration and Naturalization Service[23]
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)[23]
- United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)[24]
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) [25]
Mexico
The Mérida Initiative, a U.S. Counter-Narcotics Assistance to Mexico
Mexican cartels (also known in Mexico as: La Mafia (the mafia or the mob), La Maña (the skill / the bad manners),[26] Narcotraficantes (Narco-Traffickers), or simply as Narcos) is a generic term that usually refers to several, usually rival, criminal organizations involved in the Mexican Drug War:[27]
- Gulf Cartel
- Los Zetas (Formerly part of the Gulf cartel, now independent)
- La Familia Michoacana (Formerly a branch of the Gulf Cartel, then went independent)[28][29] (Disbanded)
- Los Caballeros Templarios (Splintered from La Familia Cartel)[30]
- Sinaloa Cartel
- Colima Cartel (Disbanded, former members are now a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel)[31]
- Sonora Cartel (Disbanded in 1989, its remnants joined the Sinaloa Cartel)[31]
- Artistas Asesinos (gang)[32] (Disbanded)
- Gente Nueva[33] (Disbanded)
- Los Ántrax
- Milenio Cartel (First loyal to the Sinaloa Cartel federation, later independent) (Disbanded)
- La Resistencia[34] (Splintered from the milenio cartel) (Disbanded)
- Jalisco New Generation Cartel[35] (Independent remnants of the Milenio cartel)
- Beltrán-Leyva Cartel (Formerly part of the Sinaloa Cartel federation, later independent) (Disbanded)
- Los Negros (Beltran-Leyva enforcement squad) (Disbanded)
- South Pacific Cartel (branch of the Beltran Leyva Cartel in Morelos)[36][37][38]
- Cártel Independiente de Acapulco[39] (Splinter from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel)
- La Barredora (gang)[40]
- El Comando Del Diablo (gang)[41] (Hitman squad of la Baredora)[42] (Disbanded)
- La Mano Con Ojos (gang)[43] (small cell of Beltran-Leyva members in the State of Mexico) (Disbanded)
- La Nueva Administración[44] (Splintered from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel) (Disbanded)
- Cártel del Centro[45] (cell of the Beltran-Leyva Cartel in Mexico City) (Disbanded)
- La Oficina (gang)[46] (cell of the Beltran-Leyva Cartel in Aguascalientes) (Disbanded)
- Tijuana Cartel
- Oaxaca Cartel (Was a branch of the Disbanded Tijuana Cartel, its regional leader was captured in 2007)
- Juárez Cartel
- La Línea (Juárez Cartel enforcer squad)
- Barrio Azteca (U.S. Street Gang)[47][47] (Allied with La Linea)
Several other are lesser-known small-criminal organizations:
- Guadalajara Cartel (The first Mexican Cartel, from which most of the big cartels spawned) (Disbanded in 1989)
- Cártel de La Calle[48]
- Cártel de la Sierra[49]
- Los Mexicles (U.S. Street Gang)[50]
- Los Chachos (gang)[51][52]
- Los Texas (gang)[53]
Other organizations involved (or have been involved) in the drug trade in Mexico. It is worth mentioning, however, that this does not necessarily imply for the whole institutions mentioned below, just a selected few within it:
- UNITED STATES ORGANIZATIONS:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection[21][22]
- United States Immigration and Naturalization Service[23]
- Texas National Guard[23]
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)[23]
- MEXICAN ORGANIZATIONS:
Colombia
Until 2011 Colombia remained the world's largest cocaine producer,[66] however with a strong anti-narcotic strategy in 2012 the country achieved a great decrease in cocaine production, felling to the 3rd position, behind Peru and Bolivia.[67]
The current main actors in the drug trade are:
- Neo-paramilitary criminal gangs, also called BACRIM[68]
- Los Rastrojos
- Los Urabeños
- Oficina de Envigado
- Aguilas Negras
- Bloque Meta
- ELN (Weakened by a US-backed counter-insurgency plan)
- FARC (Weakened by a US-backed counter-insurgency plan)
- EPL (Partially demobilized)
Historical actors in the drug trade were:
- Cali Cartel (dissolved)
- Medellín Cartel (dismantled)
- North Coast Cartel (dismantled)
- Norte del Valle Cartel (dissolved)
- AUC (demobilized)
Central America
- Mara Salvatrucha
- 18th Street Gang
Brazil
Canada
- West End Gang
- Rock Machine
- Canadian Aboriginal organized crime
- Indo-Canadian organized crime
- including Tamil organized crime
Jamaica
- Yardies
Haiti
Asia
Russia
- Russian Mafia
- Azeri mafia
- Chechen mafia
- Georgian mafia
Afghanistan
Golden Triangle
China
Japan
Israel
- Abergil crime family
- Abutbul crime family[72]
- Alperon crime family
- Dumrani crime family
- Shirazi crime family
- Amir Molnar crime syndicate
- Zeev Rosenstein crime syndicate
Europe
Italy
- Ndrangheta
- Cosa Nostra
- Camorra Mafia
- La Stidda
- Sacra Corona Unita
- Mala del Brenta
- Basilischi Mafia[73]
- Nuova Famiglia Salentina,[74]
- Rosa dei Venti[75]
- Remo Lecce Libera,[76]
- Società foggiana[77]
- Clan dei Casamonica[78]
United Kingdom
- British crime firms
- including Turkish-Cypriot mafia and Pakistani mafia,
- Tottenham Mandem
- Woolwich Boys
- Cheetham Hillbillies
Netherlands
- Dutch Penose
- including Riffian mafia and Kajahatan
- No Limit Soldiers in Curaçao and the Netherlands
France
- French Milieu
- including Caids des Cités
Other parts of the world
- Kkangpae
- United Wa State Army
- Dojin-kai
- Kyushu Seido-kai
- Bosnian mafia
- Bulgarian mafia
- Albanian mafia
- Corsican mafia
- Estonian mafia
- Irish mob
- Liverpudlian mafia
- Macedonian Mafia
- Montenegrin Mafia
- Serbian mafia
- Slovak mafia
- Triad
- Moroccan mafia
- Shower Posse
- History of Jardine, Matheson & Co.
- Cartel del Az
References
- ↑ "Va Marina por 'halcones del crimen organizado". Blog del Narco. 21 April 2011.
- ↑ Bowden, Charles (Feb 6, 2011). "El sicario, un documental proscrito en México (1)".
- ↑ Bowden, Charles F (Feb 6, 2011). "El sicario, un documental proscrito en México (2)".
- ↑ "Ejército detiene a lugarteniente del cártel del Golfo". El Universal. 2 June 2009.
- ↑ "DATOS - Principales capos de la droga en México". International Business Times. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Uncovering the link between the Mexican drug cartels". National Defense University: Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
- ↑ "Las 5 caras del lavado de dinero". CNNExpansión. 8 June 2010.
- ↑ "Cae "El Adal" operador financiero de los Zetas". TV Milenio. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ↑ "Cae "El Míchel" operador financiero de Los Zetas en Aguascalientes". Tele Diario. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ↑ "Entrevista a el Mamito, presunto fundador de los Zetas". CNN Videos. Jul 6, 2011.
- ↑ "The World Factbook". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "U.S. Leads the World in Illegal Drug Use". CBS News.
- ↑ "U.S. drug habit keeps Mexican war boiling - US news - Crime & courts - NBC News". msnbc.com. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hovUpnhllEsX9vClXt86VxCmwo1A?hl=en
- ↑ "Special Reports - Do The Math - Why The Illegal Business Is Thriving - Drug Wars - FRONTLINE - PBS". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ Israeli mafia#The Israeli mafia in the United States
- ↑ "Members of Texas Syndicate gang arrested, drugs taken off streets". KVUE News. February 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Asesinan en Monterrey a capo de la ‘Mexican mafia’". Esmas.com. 11/02/06. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Tinoco, Alberto (02/07/05). "Radiografía de la Mara Salvatrucha en México". Esmas.com. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Mexican Drug Cartels: You Want Silver or Lead? Part 2". © 2009 BanderasNews. September 23, 2010.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "EU arrestó a 127 agentes aduanales corrompidos por narco mexicanos". Mundo Narco. 06/09/2011. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Detienen a agente aduanal por narco". El Mañana/El Universal. Domingo, 29 de Julio de 2007. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Juan García Ábrego
- ↑ ATF gunwalking scandal
- ↑ Allegations of CIA drug trafficking
- ↑ "Controla 'La Maña' a Reynosa, Tamaulipas". Terra Noticias. 2 March 2009.
- ↑ Guerrero Gutiérrez, Eduardo. "At the root of the violence". Nexos. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
- ↑ La Familia Michoacana
- ↑ Carlos Rosales Mendoza
- ↑ "La Resistencia y Jalisco Nueva Generación". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200708.grayson.mexicodrugcartels.html
- ↑ "Caen cuatro sicarios de los "Artistas asesinos" en Chihuahua". El Economista.
|first1=missing|last1=in Authors list (help) - ↑ Castillo, Mariano (May 18, 2007). "‘Gente Nueva’ enter border drug wars". Laredo Morning Times.
- ↑ "La Resistencia, nueva organización delictiva en Guadalajara". Mundo Narco.
- ↑ "Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación va contra todos". Blog Del Narco.
- ↑ "El Universal - - Arresto de El Ponchis exhibe vacos legales". 23 June 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "Child Assassin named "El Ponchis"Arrested By Mexican Army!! - In Flex We Trust". In Flex We Trust. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "Alleged U.S teen cartel assassin arrested - Stun Gun Savior Self Defense Blog". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "Capturan a "El Padrino", identificado como líder del Cártel Independiente de Acapulco". Milenio TV.
- ↑ "Caen otros seis integrantes de La Barredora". Blog del Narco. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ↑ "El Comando del Diablo aceptan tregua con condiciones en Guerrero". Universo Narco (Noticias). 25 August 2011.
- ↑ Edward Fox. "Splinter Gangs Wage War in Acapulco: The Future of Mexico's Conflict". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "¿Quienes son "La Mano Con Ojos"". Mundo Narco.
- ↑ "Narcos de Morelos se pelean por el DF". Milenio Noticias (online). 2010-10-15.
- ↑ Romero, Óscar Romero (2011-07-22). "Presuntos narcos revelan red policial de protección". Milenio Noticias.
- ↑ "Capturan a varios integrantes del grupo La Oficina". Blog del Narco. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 "Los Aztecas fueron los asesinos; en EU y México hay 5 mil". La Razón.
- ↑ "Aparece el Cártel de La Calle en Chiapas". Blog del Narco. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ↑ "Se presenta el Cártel de la Sierra en Guerrero con seis ejecutados". La Crónica. 2010-07-27.
- ↑ Cruz, Juan Manuel (Martes 05 de julio de 2011). "Caen seis presuntos integrantes de Los Mexicles". El Universal. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Cacho, Lydia. "La otra historia de ‘La Barbie’". Zócalo Saltillo.
- ↑ Otero, Sylvia (20 August 2003). "Surge nuevo 'narcoperfil'". El Universal.
- ↑ Cobos González, Carmen (Miércoles, 14 de Mayo de 2003). "Desmantela Ejército banda de Los Texas". PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA • MÉXICO. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Caen tres por crimen de Policía Municipal". Mundo Narco.
- ↑ Pedraza, Iván (2011-02-02). "Investiga PGR a policías federales relacionados con el narco en Sonora". Milenio Televisión.
- ↑ "Detienen en Colima a 36 policías estatales por vínculos con el narco". Periodico Realidad BCS. 2011-02-16.
- ↑ "Ejército ha procesado a 142 soldados por nexos con el narco". Animal Politico. 06/09/2011. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Sedena procesa a 13 militares por nexos con el narco". La Policiaca.
- ↑ Otero, Silvia (2010-03-20). "En prisión, 40 militares por nexos con el narco". El Universal.
- ↑ "Investigan a 20 militares por nexos con narco". El Siglo de Torreón. Retrieved 10/03/2010. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "Detienen a marino por nexos con narco". El Universal. 28 May 2010.
- ↑ "Detienen a marino por nexos con el narco". El Economista. 27 Mayo, 2010 - 18:34.
|first1=missing|last1=in Authors list (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ Otero, Silvia (2008-05-28). "En la mira, la tropa aduanal del narco". El Universal.
- ↑ Morales, Alberto (06/04/2011). "Le hallaron 88 armas a Jorge Hank Rhon". El Universal. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Los 'Xolos' y Shakira, preocupación en Tijuana tras detención de Hank Rhon". CNN México. Domingo, 05 de junio de 2011. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Heather Walsh. "Gold Eclipses Cocaine as Rebels Tap Colombian Mining Wealth". Businessweek.com. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "Colombia no longer top cocaine producer". usatoday.com. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ "Colombia’s BACRIM: Common Criminals or Actors in Armed Conflict?". insightcrime.org. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ↑ Glenny, Misha (2009) McMafia , Vintage Books, ISBN 1-4000-9512-3
- ↑ Salinger, Lawrence (2005) Encyclopedia of white-collar & corporate crime: A - I, Volume 1 SAGE, ISBN 0-7619-3004-3
- ↑ "Warlord or Druglord?". TIME.com. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "Police cite significant achievements against major crime families". Haaretz.com. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ La Sort, Mike. "Basilischi: The Fifth Mafia". AmericanMafia.com.
- ↑ "Criminal Organisations in Southern Continental Italy". Rivista di intelligence e di cultura professionale.
- ↑ Barozzi, Maurizio. "La "strategia della tensione"". Federazione Nazionale Combattenti Repubblica Sociale Italiana.
- ↑ "Mafia Italiana". Colegio Nuestra Señora de Merced.
- ↑ Castori, Fabio (Fermo, 6 novembre 2008). "Associazione mafiosa, rivivono le 'imprese' della cupola foggiana". Il Resto del Carlino. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Paolocci, Tiziana (July 28, 2007). "Scacco matto ai Casamonica: sei in manette e tre denunciati". Il Giornale.it.
Further reading
- Aire, Jose Gutierrez (2012). Blood, Death, Drugs and Sex in Old Mexico. Createspace Independent Pub. ISBN 147759227X.
- PBS. 2006. Frontline: Drug Wars.
External links
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