Mexico's drug cartels continue to increase their presence in the U.S. Already established in border states such as Texas, Arizona and California, either directly or indirectly, cartels are making inroads into remaining U.S. states. There are seven major drug cartels in Mexico, how many of them have operations in the U.S. and in which states has activity been reported? Media reports show that those who believe the problem relegated to Mexico are mistaken and misguided.
The shooting of two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in an ambush on Feb. 15, 2011, on a highway in Mexico catapulted Mexico's drug cartels even further into the news. The shooting occurred on Mexican soil, creating shockwaves that ripped across the U.S. Sadly, it takes a major event like this to make some sit up and notice. This tragedy may have happened south of the border, and can be laid at the feet of Mexico's drug cartels, but the U.S. is no less culpable. Why?
America's addiction fuels Mexico's drug war
America's need for illicit drugs is staggering and neither addict nor dealer cares about origination, provided one can get his fix and the other can reap the rewards. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at Justice.gov, "Most illicit drugs available in the United States ... are smuggled into the United States across the nearly 2,000-mile Southwest Border." In March 2010, the department announced that Mexico posed the single greatest drug trafficking threat to the United States, having increased the flow of heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines. The cost to the U.S. economy is $215 billion per year.
In December of last year, Ken Melson, acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) requested the initiation of a new Demand Letter requiring the reporting of multiple sales of certain long guns by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. (See "ATF's New Proposed Gun Regulations for Border States Under Fire.")
Despite an outcry of infringement on Second Amendment rights and a step towards gun control by political figures and gun rights groups, the reason for this request was simple – the ATF faced a significant increase in drug and firearms-related violence on the Southwest border. As drugs move north, guns are heading south and U.S. gun dealers are responsible for many of the 60,000-plus weapons seized in Mexico and traced back to U.S. gun stores since 2006. Like it or not, the US is fueling this drug war, on both sides of the border.
U.S. states with reported drug-related cartel activity: Alabama, Alaska and American Samoa
State-by-state news reports reveal just how far Mexico's drug cartels have penetrated into the US. This article covers drug cartel activity in Alabama through Arkansas.
Alabama is facing an increasing problem with cartel activity. In Nov. 2010, 45 people were arrested in Jonesboro, Georgia, by local and federal law officials in Operation Choke Hold. Authorities seized the following:
- 4,120 pounds of marijuana
- 46 pounds of methamphetamine
- 43 kilograms of cocaine
- 20 guns, six vehicles and about $2.3 million in cash
- arrested individuals were from the drug cartel, La Familia Michoacana
- reported by The Washington Times; "Big Mexican Drug Ring Hit in Atlanta-area Busts" Nov. 04, 2010
Although Alaska has little direct contact with Mexico's drug cartels, it has an avid market fueled by drugs filtered from Mexico through other U.S. states. Drugs command a higher price in Alaska than other states meaning there is no shortage of suppliers. In July 2010, the DOJ announced at Atf.gov that Gilberto Gonzalez, a.k.a. “Toro,” and a Mexican citizen, was sentenced to 20 years in federal court in Anchorage for the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, and for money laundering.
American Samoa like Alaska has indirect contact with Mexico's drug cartels. In 2001, the American Samoa Drug Threat Assessment at Justice.gov reported that the drugs of main concern were methamphetamines and marijuana. Drug smugglers used commercial aircraft and cargo vessels to transport drugs, and methamphetamine originated from two main sources – California and Mexico.
Drug-related activity in Arizona and Arkansas
In Arizona, law enforcement is in a constant fight with drug cartels on both sides of the border. Being a border state itself, Arizona is forced to contend with increasing human and drug smuggling. Things are so dire, says the Washington Times' article, "Signs in Arizona Warn of Smuggler Dangers," that the federal government was forced to place signs in certain areas, warning of danger from active drug and people smugglers. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu told Jerry Seper and Matthew Cella on Aug. 31, 2010, "Mexican drug cartels literally do control parts of Arizona," as deep as "70 to 80 miles from the border."
In a senate hearing back in March 2009, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois said, "In Phoenix, Arizona, in 2008, 366 kidnappings for ransom were reported," and the vast majority he added, were tied to Mexican drug cartels. On Jan. 25, 2011, KPHO News, Kpho.com, reported that ATF agents had disbanded a gun-smuggling ring operation in the greater Phoenix area and seized 700 cartel-bound AK-47s.
KARK 4 News at Arkansasmatters.com, reported on Oct. 14, 2010, that a drug roundup in Arkansas linked dozens of suspects to Mexican drug cartels, specifically the Gulf and Tijuana Cartels. The Arkansas Drug Threat Assessment of 2003 from the DOJ, Justice.gov also reports that methamphetamine is a principal drug threat to Arkansas. Produced by Mexican criminal groups in Mexico, California and southwestern states, meth is widely available in Arkansas. These groups add the report, are also the primary producers and distributors for powdered cocaine across the state.
Unfortunately Mexico's drug war might be spurred by American desires, but the U.S. is also impeded by how much action it can take. On Thursday Feb. 17, 2011, two days after ICE agents were ambushed, Robin Emmott of Reuters wrote in "Analysis: U.S. Has Limited Options in Mexico's Drugs War" that despite pressure on Washington to help stem spiraling drug violence, "Mexican resistance to a bigger U.S. role leaves it with limited options." Meanwhile, Emmot says, "Mexico struggles to match the clout of powerful gangs that send an estimated $40 billion worth of drugs across the U.S. border each year."
Elizabeth Batt - Elizabeth Batt is a former large animal nurse, certified NREMT, lover of equines and conservationist.
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