MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL

Jack Hawkins, Ben Mauro, Theo Painter, Casey Schwertfeger, Madhav Patel

THE DRUG WAR BASICS

The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing fight between rival drug gangs fighting each other, and the Mexican Government, for power and control. Although Drug Cartels have been around for decades, they have recently sprouted up in bigger numbers since the 1990s. Mexican drug cartels are responsible for 90% of illegal drugs that enter into the U.S. It is estimated that earnings from illegal drug sales range from $13 billion to $49 billion annually.

BORDER SECURITY
The U.S./Mexico border has many different security checkpoints in major cities, but a large portion of the border has no security at all. Luckily, in these regions, the land is hard to travel on. The border is nearly 2000 miles long, and is guarded by more than 20,000 border patrol agents, but only have effective control of about 700 miles. This shows how many people it takes to cover just a fraction of the border. There are an estimated half a million illegal entries into the U.S. every year Drug dogs are used at major border checkpoints to sniff cars suspected of carrying illegal drugs, and suspicious vehicles can also be searched by border patrol agents

DRUG CARTELS
There are many different gangs that participate in drug trafficking, but two main ones are Los Zetas and Sinaola Cartel. These two gangs are bitter rivals, but they both have the same goal.

Los Zetas Los Zetas is a powerful and violent crime gang who is considered by the U.S. to be the most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and dangerous cartel operating out of Mexico. They often prefer brutality over bribery, and are known for their extremely gruesome tactic.

Sinaola The Sinaola Cartel is Mexicos largest organized crime group, and is considered by the U.S. Intelligence Community as the most dangerous Drug trafficking group in the world. According to the U.S. Attorney General, the Sinaloa Cartel is responsible for importing into the U.S. and distributing nearly 200 tons of cocaine and large amounts of heroin between 1990 and 2008.

TYPES OF DRUGS AND WAYS TO TRANSPORT

Some of the most common drugs that the cartels smuggle are marijuana, crystal meth, cocaine, and heroine. These are the most profitable drugs that can be sold. There are many different ways the drugs are taken across the border. One of the most common, and most effective, is the use of drug mules, who are people paid to take drugs across the border, either by foot or by car. Secret compartments are made into cars where drugs are hidden. The only problem with this is that drug dogs can smell drugs inside cars. Another way drugs are transported is by tunnel. This goes along with travel by foot, and tunnels are dug under the border so people can traverse the border. There are a few more less popular ways that drugs are transported. These include small airplane, boat, and through cargo ships and sea vessels.

EFFECTS ON THE UNITED STATES

The U.S. Department of Justice considers the Drug War the largest organized crime attack on the U.S. U.S. government officials admit that the Cartel is a shared problem with Mexico, fueled by a demand for drugs by U.S. citizens. At least 19 Americans were killed in 2008 due to the Cartel, and another 92 were killed from 2009-2010. These deaths are from kidnappings, bribes, and drug related violence.

EFFECTS ON MEXICO
Mexico suffers negatively from the drug trade as well

About 80% of Mexicans are not happy with the way the drug war is going, and support the use of the Mexican Army
55% believe the military is making progress 78% of respondents support U.S. assistance in training 57% support American funds, but only 26% support deployment of U.S. troops

STATIONS
Now, we will split you all up into four different groups to learn a little more about the Drug Cartels.
Cartels Types of Drugs / Transportation

Risks and Punishment

Enforcement

IMPORTANT: at each station, write down on a sheet of paper 3 important events/facts

DRUG CARTEL GAME

Now we are going to play game that will test your knowledge of what we have just learned. We will split the class into two teams, the cartel members, and the law enforcement. This bag of candy represents drugs, control, and power. If you answer a question correctly, you win candy. (For each question, one group member comes up from each team to attempt to answer) We will see who has the most candy at the end of 9 questions.

QUESTION 1
What is the Mexican Drug War?

Fighting between rival drug gangs, called cartels, who also transport illegal drugs between the United States and Mexico.

QUESTION 2
___% of illegal drugs that enter the United States come from Mexican Drug Cartels.

90%

QUESTION 3
How long is the U.S./ Mexico border?

About 2000 miles

DRUG BUST!

The drug cartel has been busted by the police. 4 members of the drug cartel team go sit in jail and cant participate in the game. Also, give 5 pieces of candy to the cops.

QUESTION 4
What is the estimated number of illegal immigrants that enter into the U.S. in one year?

Half a million

QUESTION 5
What are drug dogs used for?

Sniffing cars and people trying to cross the border to look for illegal drugs. They are trained to smell illegal substances.

QUESTION 6
What are the two major Mexican Drug Cartels?

Los Zetas and Sinoala

QUESTION 7
Name three popular drugs that are transported by the Mexican Cartels?

Heroine, Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana

CARTEL TAKEOVER

The cartel takes over a city, including a police station. Three policemen die, so go to the jail and one policeman is corrupt and turns into a cartel member.

QUESTION 8
What is the most common way to smuggle drugs across the border?

Human drug mules carrying drugs on foot

QUESTION 9
Name some effects the Drug War has on the United States

Kidnappings, murders, bribes, drug introduction to U.S. citizens.

LETS DISCUSS
Cartel: What challenges did you face when some of your team was sent to jail? Law Enforcement: What did losing a team member to the cartel represent?

When your team took control of some of the candy, what did that represent?

CAN THE DRUG WAR BE WON

Discuss these questions with somebody near you:

What would winning the war on drugs mean?

What are some ways the U.S. and Mexico are trying to do this? When do you think the war can be won/subdued?

The Mexican drug war cannot be won. It must be viewed as a conflict that can only be managed.
- Cartel

EXIT TICKET
Write down two important things you learned this class Write down your opinion on how the drug war can be subdued or stopped