Geography of Drugs Links between US and Latin

Geography of Drugs

Links between US and Latin America 1. Coca plant grown almost totally in Lat. Am 2. 85% of cocaine consumed in USA 3. Vast majority of illegal drugs are consumed in the USA and moved through Latin America

Cocaine

HISTORY OF COCA • Coca is not Cocoa A product of Cocoa

Traditional use among Natives • Chewed as a mild stimulate

Traditional use among Natives • Fights altitude sickness

Spanish control distribution • Spanish give daily allocation to get natives to work in mines, plantations, etc.

Early medicinal use A cure-all: used in tea, elixir, medicine and, yes, soft drinks

Early medicinal use • ill effects surface; banned in USA by 1920 s

Increased demand during 1960 s • Becomes drug of the wealthy

1980 s & 90 s • Crack Cocaine becomes drug of the poor

III. COCA FARMING

Advantages for Farmers • Coca grows well on marginal land

Advantages for Farmers • Farmers make 10 x more money than selling normal crops

Advantages for Farmers Quick yield: 4 -5 harvests per year bush lives 30+ years

Advantages for Farmers • Don’t need to get your crop to market; they come to you

Farming & Location Slash and Burn

Farming & Location • Slopes of Andes in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil

Who benefits economically • Economies become dependent on drug industry • Cocaine industry provides cash that support othe businesses

Who benefits economically 1. Officials paid off 2. Plata o Plomo – “silver or lead” 3. They just kill you

Who benefits economically • Rise of boomtown businesses: bars, brothels, electronics stores, hotels

V. CARTELS • Cartel - an international syndicate, combine, or trust formed esp. to regulate prices and output in some field of business

Cartel Functions • • Delivery of product Intimidate/Pay Off authorities Secure production materials/locations Launder profits

Cartel Dual Image • “above the law” • death threats and extreme violence make conviction difficult

Cartel’s Dual Image • Champions of the poor – Sponsor little league teams – Build houses – Build parks and zoos

VI. SMUGGLING • Boats “Go Fasts”

Cars

Planes

People

Fire Extinguishers

Mr. Potato Head

Puppies

VII. Routes

Texas

Florida

California

“It’s not like it hurts anybody”

“It’s not like it hurts anybody” • US deaths in Iraq war 5, 000 • US deaths in Afghanistan 2, 000 • Drug related Murders in Mexico/USA since 2006: 35, 000

“It’s not like it hurts anybody”

“It’s not like it hurts anybody” • How much does the US spend annually fighting drugs? $40 billion That’s the same as giving 1, 000 four year scholarships to UT

“It’s not like it hurts anybody” • How much does the US spend to incarcerate drug related criminals annually? $1. 5 billion dollars

“It’s not like it hurts anybody” • Who pays for the war on drugs and incarcerating criminals?

Is the War on Drugs pointless? • Cocaine costs $1500 a kilo to produce and sells in US for $70, 000 • Heroin costs $2600/sells for $230 k • Meth costs $500/sells for $60 k

Is the War on Drugs pointless? • US spent $60 b on illegal drugs • A drug cartel can have 90% of its product confiscated and still turn a profit • Cartels can make a $6 b a year profit using this data (from drug sales is US alone)

Is the War on Drugs pointless? • Can the US expect to stop 90% of drugs from getting the country? • What will stop drugs coming to the US?