The Intelligence from The Economist Narcos and avocados: Mexico’s diversifying drug cartels
May 23, 2023
Join Sarah Burke, Mexico City Bureau Chief for The Economist, as she unpacks the evolving landscape of drug cartels in Mexico, with insights into their diversification beyond narcotics into mining. Alongside her is Gilad Amit, Science correspondent, who shines a light on the promising future of bacteriophages as an alternative to combat antibiotic resistance. They discuss the serious economic impacts of cartel activities and delve into groundbreaking scientific efforts that could reshape the fight against bacterial infections.
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Cartel Shift to Fentanyl
- Mexican drug cartels are shifting from marijuana and cocaine to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
- This marks a deeper change, with cartels diversifying into new sectors.
Cartel Diversification
- Mexican drug cartels are diversifying into other illicit activities like people smuggling and illegal mining.
- They are also increasingly extorting legitimate businesses, resembling the mafia.
Extortion in Agriculture
- Cartels extort avocado farmers, charging fees per hectare and influencing market prices.
- They use similar tactics in the fishing industry, forcing fishermen to sell their catch at lower prices.
