Economist Podcasts Narcos and avocados: Mexico’s diversifying drug cartels
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May 23, 2023 
Sarah Burke, the Mexico City Bureau Chief for The Economist, shares insights on the alarming trend of Mexican drug cartels diversifying their activities beyond drug trafficking into sectors like mining. With a focus on local economic impacts, she highlights the complex nature of cartel operations and the violence they inflict on communities. Meanwhile, Gilad Amit, a Science correspondent, delves into the promise of bacteriophages as a groundbreaking alternative to combat antibiotic resistance, urging urgent advancements in this field.
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Drug Cartel Diversification
- Mexican drug cartels are shifting from marijuana and cocaine to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
- This shift reflects a broader diversification into other illicit activities and legitimate businesses.
Reasons for Diversification
- Drug cartels diversify due to the lucrative nature of synthetic drugs and a desire for increased profits.
- Government policies, like the war on drugs, have fragmented cartels, leading some to seek alternative income sources.
Extortion of Legal Businesses
- Cartels extort legal businesses, exemplified by avocado farmers in Michoacán paying annual fees.
- They control supply chains, forcing fishermen to sell at lower prices and manipulating markets.
