Drug war in Mexico & Colombia

Drug war in Mexico & Colombia Dominique Bourhill

FUN FACTS: Did you know? Did you know? Coca cola used to have cocaine in it. Did you know? Eating a poppy seed bagel cause you to fail a drug test? Did you know? Cigarettes are as addictive asheroin.

Drug War: What is it? Drug war means: A conflict between law enforcement and those who deal in illegal drugs.

Important definitions • Opium Poppy Cultivation: This is involves deriving poppy seeds and opium from the plant. The source is called opiates. • Cocoa Cultivation: • This means that the cocoa is derived from the plant. • Drug Cartels: • Criminal organizations developed with a focus on promoting and controlling drug trafficking.

Demographics • Mexico: Mexico is the largest “opium poppy cultivator” • opium poppy cultivation in 2009 rose 31 percent • potential production of 50 metric tons of pure heroin • Colombia: Colombia is the world's leading “cocoa cultivator” - Colombia supplies cocaine to nearly all of the US markets and the great majority of other international drug markets.

Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_qafPhDiPo

Mexico: Key Points • The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict, taking place among rival drug cartels each fighting the other for regional control. • The cartels engage in kidnapping, ransom and extortion of migrants and force them to join their organizations or cartels. • A large percentage of murders in Mexico appear to be the result of mass kidnapping and robbery of migrants due to the drug trade. • Heroin and Cocaine are the popular drugs. • Both were initially marketed as a pain-killers. • The U.S. and Mexican governments have been criticized for their slow response to confront the various cartels' financial operations which is money laundering. • Mexican drug cartels now dominate the illegal drug market in the United States. • The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that wholesaleearnings from illicit drug sales range from $13.6 billion to $48.4 billion annually.

Colombia: Key Points • Cocaine is their main drug export. • Made from an extract of the cocoa leaf, cocaine has been available for 100’s of years. • Cocaine came into wide use as a pain-killer and miracle drug in the late 19th century. • Increased use has led to the armed conflict & drug wars since 1964. • Fighting escalated in 1975 when Colombian police seized 600 kilos of cocaine from the airport at Cali. The police proceeded to kill 40 people in Medellin. • In 2007 and 2008, cocaine was used by some 16 to 17 million people worldwide. North America accounted for more than 40 per cent of global cocaine consumption. • For the North American market, cocaine is typically transported from Colombia to Mexico or Central America by sea and then onwards by land to the United States and Canada.

Prevention The Obama administration wants to spend $26 billion on federal anti-drug programs. This will have impact around the world. • Better border patrols to stop the influx of drugs. • Drug campaigns to spread the word of the danger of drugs.

Summary Because the Mexican and Colombian Governments have been unable or unwilling to stop these drug cartels, they have now become the United States problem as well. Drug trafficking from these countries and the subsequent drug use amongst Americans is very high and although our Government is trying to stop this, more needs to be done.

Question and answers

Work cited • http://www.thefreedictionary.com/drug+war • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/cron/ • http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/War_on_Drugs#Cannabis • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War#History • http://stopthedrugwar.org/taxonomy/term/110 • http://www.freedomdrugrehab.com/narconon-news/reducing-demand-to-end-drug-trafficking-wars/ • https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/co.html

Drug war in Mexico & Colombia