Global Impact
Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are produced and distributed from Mexico to the entire world.
Revenue
Drug trafficking by the Mexican Cartels brings in an estimated revenue of 35 to 45 Billion U.S. dollars to Mexico. Because of the enormous profit brought in by drug trafficking, violence and conflict have broken out within the Cartels.
Not just Mexico's Problem
Mexico is not the only country affected by the mexican drug cartel's drug trafficking. The United States has been helping Mexico through the Merida Initiative. This is an agreement which states that the U.S. will provide aid to Mexico and other Central American countries in an attempt to stop drug trafficking in those areas. The U.S. is trying to fund these government institutions and stop the growing corruption. For example, the U.S. has funded training for police forces as well as money for equipment used to fight the war against drug trafficking.
Violence
The growing alliance between the United States and Mexico has done nothing to solve the major problem of violence. In 2009, Around 7,000 people died and 1200 were kidnapped in Mexico as a result of the war on drugs. This rate has been significantly increasing each year. Now, not only are drug cartel related individuals being affected, but the entire public is at risk. Cartels are known for their incredibly extreme brutality, not only towards their rivals but towards innocent civilians as well. While much of their livelihood is built upon secrecy, the murders and executions carried out by the cartels are often made public with videos. The bodies are often left in the open like advertisements for people to see.