Alejandro Pineda

Criminal Justices

May 4,2019

Gregory Butler

Drug Trafficking in the United States

“Drug trafficking in the United States dates to the 19th century. From opium to

marijuana to cocaine, a variety of substances have been illegally imported, sold and

distributed throughout U.S. history, often with devastating consequences.”

Throughout the years drug trafficking has been a huge problem in the United

States for quite some time now, since I’ve been alive (22 years) it was always known

that drug trafficking was going on and it was rapidly increasing throughout the years.

With the new technology we can detect them a little better but with new

technology the advantage also comes the people distributing the drugs as well. Most

places in the US now a days with the right communication of people you could get any

drug substance just like that. The word of the mouth goes a long way. But how exactly

is it making it make it this way so rapidly.

“During the mid-1800s, Chinese immigrants arriving in California introduced

Americans to opium smoking. The trading, selling, and distribution of opium spread

throughout the region. Opium dens, which were designated places to buy and sell the

drug, began to crop up in cities throughout California and soon spread to New York and

other urban areas. Before long, Americans were experimenting with other opiates like

morphine and codeine. Morphine was especially popular for use as a pain reliever
 during the Civil War, which caused thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers to

become addicted to the drug.” (https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-drug-

trafficking)

This is where it all started, the fact that it started so many years ago and it is still tell this

day impacting a ton of people’s lives. We must act and try and stop it if not reduce the

sell of the daily drugs that are harming so many people today. The main source of

today as where we do get our drugs is across the border in Mexico. Right now, they are

a big source of a lot of drugs coming into the US. The rise of the drug trafficking into the

US started when the notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman become the

kingpin of the whole organization.

“By the mid-1980s, the U.S.-Mexican border became the main transport route for

cocaine, marijuana and other drugs into the United States. By the late 1990s, Mexican

traffickers dominated drug distribution and introduced methamphetamine.

The Sinaloa Federation, which is still operating today, is perhaps the largest and most

well-known Mexican drug cartel. It’s also known as the “Pacific Cartel,” the “Guzman-

Loera Organization,” the “Federation,” and the “Blood Alliance.” According to the U.S.

Attorney General’s office, the Sinaloa cartel imported and distributed almost 200 tons of

cocaine and large amounts of heroin between 1990-2008. The infamous drug lord  “El

Chapo” led Sinaloa beginning in 1989. In 2003, the United States Department of the

Treasury considered Guzman the “most powerful drug trafficker in the world.”
 After several arrests and escapes from prison, Guzman was recaptured by Mexican

authorities in 2016. In early 2017, he was extradited to the United States to face criminal

charges.”( https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-drug-trafficking

I would say that the reason for his success was because of the so many unique ways

that you are able to smuggle drugs through or get them over so easily. They smuggle

them in fruits and vegetables, they put them in shoes, they stack them inside cars etc.

Now with the technology evolving and getting more advance that anyone can use it they

are able to use drones to fly them over the border or even remote control cars that have

night vison on them so they can drive them at night with a couple of kilos attached to

them or maybe even pulling some in a little built in trailer that they made.

As the years go by more and more people start drug trafficking into the US not just the

Mexico Cartel there are plenty of others that are just as involved in the smuggling of

drugs into the United States. “Organizations in the Middle East, including the Taliban

and al-Qaida, have become major players in the production and shipment of illegal

drugs. Mexican and Columbian cartels remain problematic for the U.S. government, the

DEA. In 2013, six substances accounted for nearly all drug trafficking offenses: powder

cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, crack cocaine, heroin, and oxycodone. A 2014

report revealed Americans spent about $100 billion a year over the previous decade on

illicit drugs. While drug trafficking may never completely dissipate, government officials

and agencies are currently working on new strategies to stop illegal substances from

being brought into and transported throughout the United States.”(

https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-drug-trafficking)
 I think a reason that we are still struggling with this issue today is because the

US is just not trying to help itself on this issue either; since most drugs come from

Central and South America the United States has financially donated numerous funds to

help the governments of these countries combat this organized crime more effectively

and with greater force. “At a July 2011 regional meeting, Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton pledged over $300 million in assistance for Central America.” (Espach,

www.drclas.harvard.edu) These countries where the drugs originate from have some

issues dealing with the organized drug gangs by themselves because of the power the

gangs themselves and the corruption of police. The issue that is at hand because of the

help of the United States is the countries are afraid of the withdrawal of the help and

funding; this creates tension between the United States government and the Central

American governments of these countries.

 Citations
1. https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-drug-trafficking

2. https://abc7news.com/society/busted-heres-the-top-12-craziest-drug-disguises/1758351/

3. https://www.ussc.gov/research/quick-facts/drug-trafficking