PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In the land of sombreros and tequila, a deadly power has risen, subverting the entire country into its vice-like grip. It's no longer just about the drug trade – Narcos have evolved, taking control of everything from avocados to water. They're seizing political power and now they're mobilizing the masses like a political party to demand what the narcos want. Mexico is moving swiftly towards being the world's first narco-state, 20 years in the making.
Drug trafficking organizations, also known as 'narcos,' have gradually turned Mexico into a quagmire of criminal power, with the country sinking deeper into chaos over three consecutive presidential terms. The ever-diversifying criminal enterprises have extended their tentacles into every sphere where money is made, leaving the country gasping for external assistance.
Recent weeks have been especially harrowing, marked by a never-ending cycle of violence and terror. Whether it is market fires in the center of the country, bombings in Jalisco, or firing squads in Nuevo León, the horrors seem to have no end.
The criminals' power extends far beyond traditional illicit activities. They have now ventured into industries such as avocados, fishing, lumber, tourism, and even water distribution. In Puerto Vallarta, known as a crucial city for the Jalisco Cartel, organized crime is involved in many of the restaurants and nightclubs along the Malecon and deals in luxury real estate and timeshare in Puerto Vallarta.
The narco influence has also penetrated political spheres, as criminal organizations are no longer satisfied with just pressuring elected rulers. Instead, they have begun to install their operatives in local governments.
Experts highlight that besides drugs, extortion, often referred to as 'floor collection,' is the second most profitable business for the cartels. This happens in Puerto Vallarta, and almost every corner of Mexico, the practice of cartels demanding money from local businesses to keep their business and family safe. While business owners in Puerto Vallarta are less willing to talk about this practice, many in Acapulco have discussed with this publication the 'floor collection' paid to narcos in that tourist destination.
However, the scope of their activities also extends to migrant smuggling, human trafficking, clandestine logging, and illegal fishing. At the local level, they've managed to infiltrate the construction, food, and counterfeit goods industries.
The power of these cartels has been witnessed in recent years with the rise in self-defense groups, the civilian population arming itself to resist criminal attacks. However, the lines are increasingly blurred on who controls these squads. One of the most famous self-defense groups, led by Hipólito Mora, fell victim to the criminals in June, leaving a chilling message to anyone standing in their way.
In a new terrifying development, criminal gangs are now managing to mobilize entire communities, similar to a political party rallying its supporters. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's message of "hugs, not bullets" seems a distant echo amidst the ongoing carnage.
With the 2024 elections fast approaching, the narcos seem to be playing the long game by putting pressure on their own and others, flexing their muscle to shape the political landscape.
Renowned security consultant Eduardo Guerrero warns, "Mexico is not going to be able to get out of this alone." He suggests an urgent need for international collaboration for the country to break free from this quagmire, warning of the risk of Mexico becoming a de facto Narco-state, if it hasn't already reached that classification and just waiting for the rest of the world to recognize its status officially.
