Trafficking In Colombia

“Colombia is currently the world’s principle producer and distributor of refined cocaine,

the vast majority of which 70 percent is exported to the United States market. In 1999, the

country refined approximately 520 metric tons of cocaine, representing roughly 80 percent of

global production. Narcotics typically are produced in a three stage process. Coca leaves are

first crushed and boiled with limewater and kerosene making coca paste. Coca paste

is then mixed with sulphuric acid, potassium acid, potassium permanganate (sulphur dioxide can

also be used), and ammonia hydroxide, filtered, and dried into a cocaine base. The amalgam is

dissolved in acetone forming white cocaine hydroxide, which is run through a strainer,
dried

and pressed into bricks for shipping.”

(The Illigal Drug Trade).

“Aside from their disdain for Columbian institutions and their long criminal records, Columbian traffickers share other characteristics. They appear to be great believers in fate and providence and seem unmoved by normal considerations of personal danger. It is a perspective unaltered by normal law-enforcement efforts and one that makes dealing with or trying to control them such a dangerous enterprise” (Tulis 1995:67). Organized Crime groups such as the Columbian Drug Trafficking groups are involved in income producing activities, typically integrated into a bureaucratic structure.
Producing money is the group’s sole raison, and typically devoid of subculture traditions distinguishing the Sicilian Mafia and Outlaw motorcycle clubs. Drug trafficking within Columbia is done with much disregard to the law. Drug traffickers do not have a belief of legitimacy of the Columbian political and economic institutions. “Breaking the law is justified, and not just for the usual economic reasons that criminals favor (Villarreal 2002). Imperialism, along with any other international competitive economic interest is seen to be done for the economic survival of the country and not immoral. Therefore, drug trafficking is not seen as immoral or criminal in Columbia, and is actually supported for economic reasons. By 1973, independent foreign nationals could no longer “deal drugs” in Columbia. In 1976, the Colombians became dissatisfied with their Cuban agents in the United States making more profits and shortchanging the Columbians. Columbian traffickers were forced out of Columbia and into the United States. Miami for example became a great relocation spot being that it was easily accessible to import and export from Columbia due to its geographical
location. Controlling the Colombian drug market was easy because the President’s Commission on Organized Crime. “Colombia is well positioned both to receive coco from Peru and Bolivia and to export the processed drug to the United States by air or by sea” (1986c: 78-79). Geographically, the Columbian drug trafficking groups have success and ease of ability to ship into Columbia and out to the United States by plane. Colombia‘s vast forests areas make it easy to hide processing laboratories and landing and taking off areas which facilitate the air traffic. Colombia is a large country with many regions with very few federal offices. Authorities built major highways and suburbs in between the cities and turned a blind eye to the sections of the country. Most of Colombia is isolated by hilly, trackless terrain.

The Illigal Drug Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5th, 2009, from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1339/MR1339.ch2.pdf
Abadinsky, H. (2007). Organized Crime. (8th ed.). Belmont. CA: Thomson/ Wadsworth.
The Illigal Drug Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5th, 2009, from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1339/MR1339.ch2.pdf