Monday, August 23, 2010

The United States — A Paradise for Drug Traffickers

By Francisco Martín Moreno

●  In the United States, the most coveted drug market on earth, are there no drug kingpins who standout, whose names should be part of their country's criminal legend?

Do you know the name of a single U.S. drug kingpin of our times? 
 
Of course I am not referring to the infamous "gangsters" of the prohibition era in the United States, such as Capone, Dillinger and Frank Nitti, among so many other underworld characters who found in the United States the fertile ground necessary to develop and reach international “prestige.”

We knew García Abrego, Caro Quintero, "El Güero" Palma, the "Lord of the Skies," the Arellano brothers, etc., among other leaders of our third world-type underworld. 

But I insist, and in the US, the most coveted drug market on earth, are there no outstanding drug kingpins, whose names must now form a proud part of the criminal legend of their country insofar as they deal in drugs worth over US$500 billion? 

Is there no last name that stands out for efficiency and popularity, or is it simply that there are no drug traffickers now, to the embarrassment of the long North American crime tradition? 

I know! In the U.S. drugs are dealt “by themselves.” 

The drugs are dropped off at the U.S. border by Mexican or Latin American “mules,” and (as if by magic) they reach the hands of consumers "by themselves."

Of all the marijuana consumed in that country, for example, 35% is produced in Texas, Arizona and California. Without ever finding a plantation they incinerate drugs in public, those responsible are put in federal prison and finished, and their assets are sold at auction to the highest bidder. 

I guess the marijuana was planted by itself, harvested by itself, distributed by itself, and the resulting money laundered by itself….

Is this not truly amazing? 

We never hear of a harsh blow being dealt to drug trafficking in the United States as is commonly done in Mexico, without doubt, in a consistently recurrent manner.

We never see photographs of U.S. drug kingpins arrested and covered in blue FBI jackets, with their hands and feet shackled, wearing bulletproof vests and helmets, besides a large police escort to prevent any attempt on their lives that could prevent them from identifying [and] informing on their partners and movements….

In Mexico, the capture of the "famous" drug kingpins makes the front pages of Mexico's dailies, besides receiving ample radio and television coverage. 

We disseminate the incineration of narcotic drugs as soon as they are found to the mass media.  Photos of heroic soldiers who have fallen while fighting thugs are published. We have pictures of former state prosecutors shot down in the doorways of their homes while engaged in teaching after fighting criminals. 

The multiple and gaudy possessions seized from drug traffickers are made public. 

However, the battle will be hard for us to win if, in the US, they sell US$500 billion of drugs on the streets with impunity, without anyone neither seeing or knowing nor hearing anything.  This as our "puritan" neighbors never catch a kingpin, no arrests are announced in the press, no seized drugs are burned, nor do soldiers, law enforcement officers, judges or prosecutors die, no assets are seized, and no names of officials involved in drug trafficking are revealed. 

Nothing, no one knows anything….

Why isn't this known? Very simple: because an above-suspicion number of U.S. federal and state executive, legislative and judicial branch authorities are on the payrolls of the drug lords.  

If nothing is done and nothing is known, it’s because from cabinet secretaries on down (every man for himself), governors, legislators, senators, judges especially, journalists, police officers of all kinds, FBI and DEA agents, and even the famous and not less feared Border Patrol, all whom could be deeply involved with drug traffickers in juicy businesses just as they did during prohibition. 

There is nothing new under the sun. 

Even less now, when a corrupt group has more power than the State itself.

Never in the history of mankind has a gang of criminals had so much money as to enable it to buy authorities, journalists and whole countries if it might decide to do so.

All this thanks to the U.S. that provides the dollars to make this possible. 

What do drug lords prefer in exchange for heroin? Mexican pesos or American dollars? It’s quite clear, isn't it?

What sovereignty does a State have when a drug kingpin can’t be judged in his own country because doing so could bring about the destabilization of the country, with disastrous consequences for millions and millions of people?

Are we not facing a newfound power phenomenon in the hands of a single individual?

Where are the North American drug kingpins? Why hasn't the prosecution of the major drug traffickers started in the United States? 
 
I know: because neither consumers nor authorities nor drug dealers nor the press want it known who they are. 
 
This is good business for everyone. Everyone is in cahoots. 

It's better, much better, to blame Mexico for all of its problems….

——————————

Francisco Martín Moreno is a columnist for the Mexico City daily Excélsior.  "El paraíso de los narcotraficantes" was published on July 9, 2010.  Subsequently the commentary was translated into English and distributed via e-mail.  The translator is unknown, and the original translation has been edited somewhat by MexiData.info.