Geography of Drugs

Links between US and Latin America Coca plant grown almost totally in LatAm 85% of cocaine consumed in USA 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 Coca 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 1920s

Increased demand during 1960s Becomes drug of the wealthy

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

III. COCA FARMING

Advantages for Farmers Coca grows well on marginal land

Advantages for Farmers Farmers make 10x 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 other businesses

Who benefits economically Officials paid off 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? $40billion That’s the same as giving 1,000,000 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 $230k Meth costs $500/sells for $60k

Is the War on Drugs pointless? US spent $60b on illegal drugs A drug cartel can have 90% of its product confiscated and still turn a profit Cartels can make a $6b 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?