Latin American Organized CrimeCJUS 3310 Organized and Consensual CrimeLatin American Organized CrimeOn July 21, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that almost 2,000 persons have been arrested by federal agents on narcotics-related charges as part of a 20-month multi-agency law enforcement investigation known as Project Delirium. The operation targeted La Familia Michoacana drug cartel, an organization noted for its extreme level of violence. La Familia and other notable Latin American drug cartels will be discussed in this chapter. COLOMBIA- A common element in Latin American OC is drug trafficking.- The income-generating activities of many Latino OC groups are integrated into a bureaucratic structure--it is their sole raison d'etre--without the subcultural traditions that typify the Sicilian Mafia and outlaw biker clubs.- Most Latino OC groups import their organizations along with the drugs they sell.COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKING- Colombia has been torn by political strife, with 5 civil wars in the 19th-20th centuries.- La Violencia (1948-1958) civil war between wealthy landowners and poor campesinos cost the lives of 300,000.- Marxist insurgencies and right wing paramilitaries threaten the stability of the central government.- Drug traffickers exemplify lack of belief in the legitimacy of the government's political and economic institutions. Citizens tolerate violations of the law.COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKING- For traffickers, the law, law enforcement officials, U.S. drug operatives, and drug-control organizations represent traditional elite, international imperialism, and other international competitive economic interests.- Drug barons act as a state within a state.- Colombians control the cocaine market.- Well positioned geographically to receive coca from Peru and Bolivia and export the processed drug to the U.S.- Speculative capitalism by Colombia's financial elite, provided the resources for development of a cocaine industry.THE POLITICS OF DOPE- Drug money comes in through an "ask no questions" central bank attitude and currency exchanges.- Money laundered through real estate and contraband purchases, and some to politicians' campaign funds.- Marxist guerilla forces of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) protect crops and levy taxes on the drug business.- United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC): coalition of wealthy landowners, ranchers, and Colombian military control some coca areas.- THE POLITICS OF DOPE (CONT.)- Los Chamizos (Charred Tree) paramilitary: They kill leftists, university professors, student activists, and trade unionists.- 1985-2008, 2500+ union members killed; probably by Los Chamizos.- Reputed to control a drug syndicate that exports $1+ billion cocaine to U.S. and Europe annually.- The militias are more effective against the guerillas than the government, so thepopulace likes them.COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS- The term cartel identifies a network whose structure resembles that of a holding company: a collection of flexible groups with senior managers.- The cartels are compartmentalized to control each step required in processing and exporting cocaine.- There are sections for manufacture, transport, distribute, finance, and security.- Highest levels are insulated away from operations.- Cartel brokers coordinate or franchise delivery in U.S.MEDELLIN- An industrial and tourist city of 3 million people in the Andes, with a culture of violence.- Home of some of Colombia's most notorious drug traffickers, known as Los Grandes Mafiosos.- The Medellin Cartel: Carlos Lehder-Rivas, the Ochoa clan, and Pablo Escobar.OCHOA FAMILY- Fabio Ochoa Restrepo, the paterfamilias, owns a country estate with herds of cattle and horses. His family business is tied to bullfighting.- In the 1970s he had financial difficulties. His son Jorge worked in import-export in Miami, imported cocaine.- 1981 kidnappings of Lehder-Rivas, his sister (at university), and others prompted the Ochoas to call a meeting of traffickers. 223 attended and formed a special enforcement section, Muertas a Secuestradores ("Death to the Kidnappers"--MAS).- Soon after, leaflets publicly announced the enforcement section was for the execution of the kidnappers.MUERTAS A SECUESTRADORES (MAS)- The Marxist revolutionary group, M-19, was believed to be the kidnappers. People believed connected to M-19 were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.- Also murdered were trade unionists, old ladies, young children, pigs, horses, and chickens. University M-19 sympathizers were tortured.- Two who were on the Colombian army's "most wanted" list were handed to the military commander amid widespread publicity.PABLO ESCOBAR- The most notorious member of the Medellin cartel. Born poor, got wealthy trafficking, Robin Hood image.- Barrio Pablo Escobar: built 500 houses, soccer fields.- 1976: headed a group of "mules" moving coca paste.- Saw demand for cocaine in U.S., invested in Peruvian and Bolivian coca paste and coca base and shipped finished product to U.S. Fleet of planes for transport.- Killed 1993, rooftop shootout with soldiers and police.AMNESTY, EXTRADITABLES, ASSASSINATION, AND LOS PEPES- 1980s: Medellin bosses offer to Colombian government: We will abandon drug business, deposit funds in Colombian banks, and dismantle drug labs, sell chemical and transportation businesses.- In return, they wanted elimination of extradition treaty with U.S. Colombian government refused.- So Escobar murdered minister of justice, 30 judges, and a presidential candidate; $4200 bounty for police.- Police and Los PEPES (People Persecuted by Pablo Escobar) war against Escobar.CALI CARTEL- City of 1.5 million people, 250 miles south of Medellin.- Counterfeiting center, especially U.S. currency.- Loose alliance of 5 major trafficking grups.- Orejuela brothers and friend, born poor, used kidnappings to raise $75,000 to enter drug business.- Cali cartel more artful, less violent than Medellin cartel.- Favored bribery over violence.- Provided transport, distribution, enforcement service to smaller traffickers for afee.- CALI CARTEL (CONT.)- Cali cartel structure: Patriarchal, stress discipline and loyalty, compartmentalized; CEO, subordinates in charge of acquisition, production, transportation, sales, finance, enforcement. Many overseas branches.- Cali operations in U.S. centered in Elmhurst-Jackson Heights section of Queens, NY. 30,000 Colombians; banks, currency exchanges, accessible to airports.- 1995: