Soldiers of the Mexican Army begin the destruction of a confiscated field of marijuana with an extention of 120 hectareas in San Quitin, Baja Califronia, Mexico, July 15, 2011. Photo: Susana Gonzalez/DPA/PA Images. All rights reserved.
Even if the drug war were to end today, there would still be street crime and gangs in the far-distant future. However, these issues would be on a dramatically smaller scale. Mexico’s street gangs could never ascend to the level of an organized crime outfit without the massive profits from illegal drugs to pay for the necessary weaponry, hitmen, political protection, etc.
By the same token, drug money evokes a vicious cycle of rampant criminality that goes far beyond drug trafficking. In other words, Mexico’s cartels are diversified criminal organizations that don’t limit themselves to drug smuggling.
