Link to Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-files-us-lawsuit-against-ex-security-chief-linked-sinaloa-cartel-2021-09-21/
In a lawsuit filed in Miami, Mexico has accused Former Chief of Security Genaro Garcia of secretly providing aid to the Sinaloa Cartel, a crime syndicate from the Sinaloa region of Mexico well known for its international drug-trafficking and money laundering operations. While the cartel has a presence in other parts of the world, it is most strongly concentrated in its network spread across much of Mexico and parts of Latin America and the United States. Adding on to Garcia’s original prosecution after he was arrested in 2019 under charges from the US, Mexico and the US have now both mounted accusations against Garcia. Most prominently the charges include that he accepted bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for using his position to inform the cartel on both Mexico’s investigations into their illegal acts as well as about their rival cartels, and to shield the shipping of their drugs from government interference. Mexico also asserted in the lawsuit that over 39 businesses and trusts belonging to Garcia, co-conspirators, and family were involved in concealing the money from the bribes and illegal resources devoted to the cartel.
To me, the fact that there was such extensive corruption in the Mexican government is shocking and truly shows the power and influence that the drug cartels have from their industry. This is especially impactful when considering that the venality exposed in these American and Mexican efforts is from just a single person under the control of the cartels. So much has been poured into combating cartels, demonstrated by how long both the US and Mexico have been attempting to pin Garcia for all of his crimes, yet there has been little ground gained against them. There is still so much about the cartels and drug trade that remains undiscovered and unpunished but that is still harming countries everywhere in the Americas. However, with countries changing their laws on drugs, such as the way the United States is gradually legalizing marijuana, it will be interesting to watch how the drug industry is affected and whether or not these progressions prove to be helpful. They may, in fact, become an example for approaching the fight against the illegal selling of many other drugs as well.
Since this problem is so widespread and persistent, it has reached a point where it must be fought internationally and has all but forced cooperative relations between all the countries suffering from the cartels. These aligned interests produced by international crime are an example of a driving force for countries to work together and show how it can be most beneficial to all parties to simply collaborate on handling issues, especially where many states hold jurisdiction. While it is crime that has caused it, many treaties, joint-operations, and partnerships have been produced as a result.