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How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

nytimes.com

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Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#121

Post by ElCabron »

dllthomas wrote: post #59
vibrunazo wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They make most of their money from cocaine and methamphetamine (which can be legally acquired, but that didn't stop traffic). 90% of all cocaine in the US come from mexico. [1] Do you mean cocaine should be legalized? Alcohol is a bad analogy to legalizing cocaine, you should probably be comparing to the Opium Wars instead, which didn't really end well. [2] [1] http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34215.pdf [2] http://en…

IANAH, but this runs counter to my understanding. The Opium Wars are closer to what we are currently fighting, than to the results of legalization. The British (Mexico) wanted to sell opium to the Chinese (US) when it was against Chinese (US) law. There is a significant difference in that Mexico technically forbids this activity too, of course, while the British did not, but legalization by the US would move it furth…

It's impossible to run an organization like this for so long and with profits so large, without the help of some (lets call them corrupt) FBI/CIA/DEA agents or politicians inside US. I may be just a sheep but the shepherd and the dogs are always working together. We are driven to believe that all this is Columbia+Mexico vs US conflict when in reality there may be an invisible and silent war inside every country (not only US) between the ruling class and middle+lower class and the "war on drugs" is just one of the never ending battles, which will not be won by anyone as long as the rulers don't have serious interests in winning it.

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#122

Post by jpadkins »

vlisivka wrote: post #111
pjscott wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi! This is the Market Economics Fairy! I help supply and demand equilibrate everywhere! If there is unmet demand for a fairly easy-to-grow cash crop, then it means that the prices are too low! Raise them, and farmland will switch from other commodities as it becomes marginally profitable to do so! Sincerely, the Market Economics Fairy! (Full disclosure: I'm just borrowing this character because it's suddenly relevan…

So, if you will be legal drug seller and you will be tight on money, what you will do? Just invest into few small doses and you will have clients for life...

yet somehow we allow nicotine to be sold... or sugar. both are highly addictive.

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#123

Post by rwmj »

guelo wrote: post #31

The only way to stop these large criminal enterprises is to legalize the stuff. Just like alcohol prohibition created some of the most notorious American criminals, South American drug prohibitions produce powerful criminals down there. There isn't any large crime related to South American cocoa or coffee imports. Legalize it and then spend money and make laws regulating consumption, it would greatly reduce the miser…

I read this and wonder how bad it needs to get before politicians take legalisation seriously.

50,000 people dead? - check. Billions in profit? - check. Narco-states on the US border? - check. Criminals walk out of prison? - check. Gigantic crack & methaphetamine problem within the US? - check.

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#124

Post by jpadkins »

dsrguru wrote: post #38
guelo wrote: post #31

The only way to stop these large criminal enterprises is to legalize the stuff. Just like alcohol prohibition created some of the most notorious American criminals, South American drug prohibitions produce powerful criminals down there. There isn't any large crime related to South American cocoa or coffee imports. Legalize it and then spend money and make laws regulating consumption, it would greatly reduce the miser…

While that would reduce violent crime, it would also sanction people using recreational drugs besides alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. Many voters and politicians find it against their religious or moral beliefs to allow other people to do recreational drugs besides the ones they themselves are doing.

add sugar to your list. People definitely eat for recreation and it is addictive.

People simply don't think rationally about the war on (some) drugs.

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#126

Post by rwmj »

debacle wrote: post #101
pjscott wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, and feel the same way about people on alcohol -- which, incidentally, has a much greater risk of toxicity than LSD if you overdose. Which of these substances, if any, do you think should be illegal?

I don't mind if people kill themselves on drugs. I just don't want that to negatively impact me.

And the current War on (some) Drugs isn't having a massive negative impact on you? Do you not pay taxes? Do you own nothing at all of value and never go outside?

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#128

Post by rwmj »

flatline wrote: post #69
jlarocco wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in favor of drug legalization, but it's not going to happen any time soon, and I don't think it would reduce crime even if it did It's hard enough to get pot legalized in most states - the "harder" drugs don't stand a chance. And even if they were legalized, it's not even possible for a big illegal drug operation to "go legit". All of the drug cartels will still have long histories of violence, piles of cash, boa…

I'm reasonably sure that suitable mechanism design could be performed to make full legalization not only possible but much more desirable than the current scenario. It would require extensive reworking of legal and economic regulations and public policy. The first hurdle is legitimizing this type of research. From casual reading on the subject, I haven't seen any serious research like this in regards to the US, thoug…

You might want to take a look at:

http://www.tdpf.org.uk/blueprint%20download.htm

"After the War on Drugs: Blueprint for Regulation"

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#129

Post by kvnn »

vecinu wrote: post #22
dsirijus wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, 'cept the subs part, it doesn't really sound like much. Someone should offer them services. :)

Numerous drug submarines have been uncovered since the article was written. It seems that they are badly made, some sink, others just break down. I found their software engineering to be much more advanced than their submarines.

I found their software engineering to be much more advanced than their submarines.

Care to go on?

Re: How a Mexican Drug Cartel Makes Its Billions

#130

Post by Androsynth »

MattRogish wrote: post #108
bmelton wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of note, since I was curious as to the answer myself and just found out, there are still 'gangs' (though less the urban variety we're used to seeing) based around moonshining. That prompted me to ask "why is moonshining illegal", and the best (wrong) answer I could come up with was for production and delivery to dry counties. Turns out, it's just a matter of taxation. Moonshiners are welcome to go legit, but they the…

That's an interesting point that I've never considered (or heard mentioned in the legalize argument). I'm for legalization + taxation of all drugs but will we still see significant folks producing and selling illegally as a tax dodge? May legalization merely get drugs into more hands but still maintain significant illegal production? If so, a lot of the supposed benefits of legalization dry up.

The ratio of moonshine to legit alcohol sold is tiny though.
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