Mexico is currently making headlines worldwide for its drug violence, but the homicide rate in Central America is now higher than that of the Aztec nation.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Like other analysts, Andres Oppenheimer attributes the drama unfolding in Central America to drug trafficking: "Even in Costa Rica, a country that is often called the Switzerland of Latin America because it is an island of peace and prosperity in the region, there is growing anxiety about the rising tide of drug-related violence."
Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, interviewed by Oppenheimer, says: "Much of the increased crime rate in Costa Rica is due to violence between drug traffickers. But if what happened in Colombia and Mexico serves as a harbinger of things to come in Costa Rica, the next step is that drug traffickers will begin trying to extort money from public officials, and then kill those who refuse to take their money. "
Oppenheimer also sought the opinion of the head of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, William Brownfield: "Central America has surpassed Mexico as the main security threat to the United States. And no country used as a transit point for drugs is safe. History teaches us that it is physically impossible for a country to remain solely a drug-trafficking country. Drug-trafficking countries quickly become consumer countries, for the simple reason that drug traffickers pay their contacts with heroin or cocaine instead of paying with money. And its local partners have to sell that drug in the country to turn it into cash. "
In conclusion, Oppenheimer believes that: "It's time to consider legalizing marijuana and using the proceeds for education and drug prevention in the United States, Europe, Brazil and other consuming nations, as well as to help the producing and trafficking countries to more effectively combat the violent cartels. Otherwise, we will continue to spend billions of dollars embarking on new wars on drugs just to get the drug cartels to continue moving from one place to another."
The complexity of drug cartels' internal structures, their strategies of "marketing and customer service" and the way they operate increasingly resemble those of large global corporations.
How are the Coca-Cola and McDonald's corporations similar to drugs cartels? Of course the products they sell are completely different, but the way the three try to position their products and brands, increase their market share and increase profits to generate more dividends to their shareholders, is almost the same.
United States announced additional economic support for Central America in the fight against drug trafficking.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of U.S. Counternarcotics, William Brownfield, at end of his tour of Central America, said the funds will be delivered in coordination with governments.
Central American Nations should say "NO, THANKS", if results from said "aid" are going to be similar to what's going on in Mexico.
The inclusion of Costa Rica in the U.S. Government's list of the countries most affected by illegal drug trafficking confirmed what Costa Ricans already knew: Drug Trafficking has become a very serious issue.
Do these countries have a real chance of stopping drug trafficking, in the context of economies like Guatemala's where the value of the drug economy is double the country's GDP?
In 2007, just 1% of all South American cocaine sold in the USA passed through the region. Now the figure is between 60% and 90%.
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