America s Love For Illegal Drugs - 2984 Words

We’ve seen the imagery what seems like daily here in the United States, decapitated bodies hanging off a bridge on a major Mexican Highway, a banner above displaying drug cartel propaganda. The photos of car after car riddled with what seems to be hundreds of bullets, broken and blood smeared windows with bloody sheets covering the bodies of those who were attacked. The violence in Mexico has taken the lives of an estimated hundred thousand people since the official declaration of war made by President Felipe Calderon in 2006. It’s estimated that over sixty thousand deaths occurred during his presidency From December 1, 2006 to November 30, 2012. The drug violence has slowly receded in years after President Calderon’s term ended. But the†¦show more content†¦The poll taken in 2012 showed drug use is also steadily increasing across the board; the highest representation of people using drugs would be those in the 18-25 age range, where 23% of 18-20 year ol ds who were polled stated they had tried a recreational drug. 19.7% of 21-25 year old polled stated they had tried recreational drugs. The surprising statistic is in the above 50 age range, where there is a steady increase in drug use with about 7 percent polled stating they had used drugs. There is clearly a high demand for recreational drugs in the United States, and because of this drug cartels all through Mexico and South America have thrived for decades. This essay will explore some of the reasons why Mexican Cartels have thrived in the new Millennium creating a drug trade that is estimated to bring The Cartels over 3 billion dollars in profits this year alone. It will also explore the tactics used by both the United States and Mexico in combatting the illicit drug trade and the cartels that have their hands firmly in their control. The Cartels: The Sinaloa Cartel is recognized as the world’s most powerful drug cartel, it operates in 17 of Mexico’s 31 states. The Sinaloa Cartel is a multi-billion dollar operation, and the largest in Mexico. It’s rise to prominence was one of circumstance and great leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel saw it’s rise when Joaquin â€Å"El Chapo† Guzman took control of the cartel in the early 1980’s when it’s founder Migel Angel Felix