Abstract
Not long after Felipe Calderon launched his strategy to counter organized crime in 2006, Mexico’s criminal underworld experienced drastic changes; it became more violent and polymorphous, small organizations multiplied while becoming more localized and diverse, and it started drawing income from a range of markets rather than a single criminal enterprise. The purpose of this chapter is twofold. It begins by analyzing how and why a Mexican drug cartel, the Knights Templar (Los Caballeros Templarios), tapped into the iron ore industry in Michoacan state between 2011 and late 2013. And it concludes by portraying the unique characteristics and entrepreneurial dynamics of the Knights Templar, shedding light on how new illicit markets are created and how criminal groups adapt to state operations aimed at dismantling them. An analytical framework focusing on the micro-geopolitics of organized crime is proposed as a means of evaluating the cartel’s illicit entrepreneurial activities involving natural resources and mineral commodities.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call