GOD FEARING MURDERERS

Post 6:

In most families religion plays a major role in their structure, whether it is saying grace before dinner, going to church services on Easter and Christmas or having a wedding at a church religion is present in the majority of families. Translated from Spanish to English “La Familia” means family and like most families religion is an important part of the cartel’s structure. La Familia is one of Mexico’s newest and deadliest cartels while at the same time it declares to be a religious one.

One would not expect to find morals and religious beliefs in the structure of an organization that is responsible for almost half of the methamphetamines exported into the United States. According to BBC News the cartels leaders discourage the members of their organization from using drugs or alcohol.[1] As mentioned in a previous post La Familia is strongly opposed to the sale of drugs to residents of Mexico.

The profits from La Familia’s drug sales go to build schools, drainage system as well as to help out those in need[2]. This is odd behavior coming from an organization that has been held responsible for a large number of drug related murders in the state of Michoacan. The loyalty mentioned in the post about the cartels’ foot soldiers is also present in La Familia. La Familia has gained popularity among Michoacan’s poor and in some places has become more trustworthy than the police. According to the Christian Science Monitor “support is so strong that it is the locals who often alert La Familia that a military convoy is on the way”. When support is given to the cartel instead of to the authorities the fight against the cartels becomes futile.

Works Cited:
[1] Gibbs, S. ‘Family values’ of Mexico drug gang. BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8319924.stm
[2] Llana, S.M. The rise of Mexico’s La Familia, a narco-evangelist cartel. Christian Science Monitor.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1123/p12s01-woam.html

FOOT SOLDIERS: Loyal cartel members

Post 5:
A drug cartel is organized much like any modern company; there are a few people at the top of the hierarchy while the majority of the members are at the bottom. In the case of the drug cartels those members at the bottom are known as foot soldiers. On March 3, 2009, The Washington Post reported that the two largest Mexican drug cartels have been able to recruit over 100,000 foot soldiers a number they compared to the Mexican Army which has 130,000 soldiers[1]. This comparison brings into perspective the major problem the authorities are facing when it comes to challenging the drug cartels. The similarity in numbers gives an explanation as to why the Mexican government is having difficulty dismantling the drug cartels.

The two drug cartels that have a combined 100,000 foot soldiers are the Gulf Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. These two cartels are known for being rivals, something that is a benefit to the Mexican government. A merger of these two cartels would create a major force that would rival that of the Mexican Army.

The demographics of the foot soldiers are very similar to what are considered at-risk youth in the United States. Most of the foot soldiers are young, uneducated men living in poverty. The cartels have been recruiting these young men into the cartel by providing them with earnings they are not likely to receive elsewhere. Time Magazine was able to obtain a taped confession a Zeta Cartel foot soldier in which he stated that the main reason for his leaving his legitimate job as a journalist was because the cartel provided better wages.[2] The allure of the high wages is not easy for these young teens to resist, this is something the cartels know and take advantage of.

For many young men being a foot-soldier is the answer to their financial problems. According to the Washington Post article the pay these men get from being foot-soldiers is about five times the amount a legitimate minimum wage job pays. Cartel leaders know that these young men are especially loyal to the organization because the young men know that without them they would be living a life of extreme poverty. The loyalty these men have mean that they are willing to do anything and everything for the carte, this includes killing rival cartel members.

The fall of the cartels will come once the pool of recruits is drained. Young men with an alternative to this lifestyle are less inclined to risk their lives for a paycheck.


Works Cited:
[1] Carter, S. 100,000 foot soldiers in Mexican cartels. The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/03/100000-foot-soldiers-in-cartels//print/
[2] Grillo, I. Confessions of a Mexican narco foot-soldier. Time Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1868666,00.html

PROJECT CORONADO: The takedown of La Familia Cartel

Map of states involved in Project Coronado

Post 4:

In 2005 the United States passed the “Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act”. The purpose of this act was to limit the sale of legal drugs that contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, a main ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. Since the implementation of this act those drugs containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine are kept behind the counter enabling pharmacies to monitor who buys the drugs as well as the quantities they purchase.[1] The act was a major blow to methamphetamine manufacturers in the United States, but it was also a major business opportunity for one Mexican drug cartel.

La Familia Michoacana (La Familia) is one of Mexico’s newest and most brutal drug cartels. La Familia produce methamphetamines which are then smuggled into the United States and sold by the thousands of foot soldiers contracted by La Familia. According to Time Magazine, “La Familia is estimated to export as much as half of the 200 tons of crystal meth that enter the US from Mexico each year”.[2] La Familia exports all of their meth to the United States, none of their product is used by Mexico residents.

La Familia has been in recent headlines with the culmination of Project Coronado. Project Coronado was a four year multi-agency effort targeting the sale of meth by La Familia.

Project Coronado Results:[3]
· Arrests: 1,186
· Money seized: $32.8 million US dollars
· Drugs seized: 2,710 pounds of methamphetamines
1,999 kilos of cocaine
29 pounds of heroin
16,390 pounds of marijuana
· Weapons seized: 389
· Vehicles seized: 269

La Familia Cartel took a major hit with Project Coronado, by targeting La Familia the US agencies targeted the major source of methamphetamines. The numbers show that Project Coronado was a major success.

The use of methamphetamines is a problem the United States has been trying to minimize and its first step was by making the ingredients for meth less accessible. By regulating the sale of ephedrine the United States managed to eliminate major meth labs located in the United States, but this did not end the usage of methamphetamines. Much like gangs during prohibition, La Familia was able to supply the demand for methamphetamines by the United States. Time will tell as to whether Project Coronado will decrease the use of methamphetamines.

Works Cited:

[1] FDA. Legal requirements for the sale and purchase of drug products containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and
phenylpropanolamine.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm072423.htm.
[2] Grillo, I. & Padgett, T. A major blow to Mexico’s masters of meth.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1932030,00.html
[3] Department of Justice. More than 300 alleged La Familia members and associates arrested in two-day nationwide
takedown.
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/October/09-ag-1135.html