Drug Trafficking Organizations Research Articles

The quantitative and qualitative analysis of dye in fentanyl tablets via ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy-A forensic approach.

In the United States, illicit fentanyl is often trafficked as blue tablets mimicking the legitimate M-30 oxycodone tablet produced by Mallinckrodt. The analysis of dyes extracted from seized fentanyl tablets could provide a useful tool for law enforcement to establish linkages between cases and could prove useful for attributing a seizure to a given trafficking organization. Fentanyl tablet seizures associated with a particular drug trafficking organization (DTO), either through investigative or intelligence information, were used as the sample set for this study. The blue dye from the tablets was isolated by solid phase extraction and then qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed via ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. This research revealed that the illicit tableting facilities use a different dye than several known pharmaceutical companies. The concentration of dye in individual tablets within a seizure proved to be very minimal, and the small sample size made it difficult to draw linkages from case to case. Analysis of the dyes could not effectively differentiate between the drug trafficking organizations in the tested population due to each DTO using the same dye; however, it is important to note that the dye found was consistent between illicit tablets.

Strategic Resources for Drug Trafficking Organizations and the Geography of Violence: Evidence from Mexico

Abstract This article helps understand why locations close to strategic infrastructure to transport illegal drugs (seaports, airports, highways, and US ports of entry along the Mexico-US border) or to increase income (pipelines) experience different levels of violence due to DTOs operations. Our theory breaks down the impact of the geographical distance to these facilities on violence into two effects. The first effect is produced by the level of (violent) competition among DTOs, measured by the number of DTOs employing violence. We report that greater proximity to the U.S. ports of entry along the Mexico-US border, ports, and airports furthers the number of competitors, and such increase boosts violence. The second effect shapes the intensity of competition among DTOs. Reductions in the costs of excluding competing DTOs from using the facility could trigger greater confrontation among DTOs. We confirm the importance of this second effect in relation to ports and the U.S. ports of entry along the Mexico-US border.

Modern Illegal Drug Business in Ukraine: Multidisciplinary Study of the System of Prevention and Countermeasures Against the Legalization of Income (Money Laundering) Obtained by Criminal Means

Established that the modern illegal drug trade is an integral part of transnational organized crime, involving the laundering of proceeds obtained through criminal activities. A comprehensive multidisciplinary study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ukraine's efforts to combat the contemporary drug trade and to analyze the international system for preventing and countering the legalization of illicit income (money laundering). This study confirmed the connection between transnational organized crime and the laundering of money derived from the illegal trafficking of banned psychoactive substances. The research emphasized the critical need to enhance the criminal and legal frameworks, improve medical and pharmaceutical support, and expand social and economic assistance. By examining the global experience in combating organized crime and drug-related offenses, the study provided valuable insights into effective strategies. Particular attention was given to forensic pharmaceutical practices related to the detection of prohibited psychoactive substances and the legalization of income from their illicit trade. To address these challenges, the study recommends increasing the criminal liability for members of organized drug trafficking gangs and suggests specific amendments to articles 115, 305, and 307 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the European Union’s roadmap and international cooperation efforts in combating the illegal circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances and the laundering of illegal profits was conducted. Normative initiatives aimed at amending Article 209 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code were developed and proposed. The study indicated the importance of implementing the EU Roadmap measures in Ukraine to foster cooperation among various private and public institutions. This collaborative approach aims to coordinate joint actions, conduct research, and organize conferences and training sessions based on the EMCDDA European prevention program and UN initiatives. The study underscores the relevance, timeliness, and practical significance of engaging the international community, including scientists, medical professionals, pharmacists, students, the public, legal experts, law enforcement, and government authorities. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the study seeks to promote a more effective and coordinated response to the challenges posed by the modern drug trade and its associated criminal activities.

О мерах по противодействию деятельности организованных преступных групп в сфере незаконного оборота наркотиков в новых условиях

Purpose of the study: analysis of measures and directions of countering the activities of organized criminal groups in the field of drug trafficking in new conditions. Research methods: logical, system-structural, statistical methods of scientific knowledge of social processes and phenomena are used in the work. Conclusions: neutralization of the activities of organized criminal groups operating in the field of drug trafficking is one of the strategic directions of international and national anti-drug policy. Of particular concern are the problems associated with the increase in the volume of illicit drug production in areas that are not sufficiently controlled by the authorities, as well as in zones of armed conflict. The Russian Federation actively uses international platforms to promote national approaches in the field of international drug control. However, international cooperation in this area has recently become highly politicized, which has a negative impact on the effectiveness of combating illicit organized drug trafficking, while there is an active merging of the drug business and terrorism. In this regard, the criminal drug market and organized criminal activities in the field of drug trafficking require close attention. Scientific and practical significance: the analysis presented in the article allows us to adequately assess the current situation and develop regulatory and organizational measures to counter organized criminal activity in the field of drug trafficking in new conditions.

Unpacking drug trafficking phenomenon through seaports: lessons from the Italian ports

ABSTRACT This article aims to provide an analysis of the factors influencing the operational strategies of drug trafficking organisations in the context of seaports. It seeks to move beyond a monolithic representation of this complex phenomenon by investigating the intricate interplay between legal and illicit spheres, as well as the diverse methodologies employed in the illicit transportation of drugs from vessels to destinations outside of ports. Drawing from empirical evidence gathered in the Italian context, the results reveal that drug trafficking through seaports is a multifaceted endeavour influenced by a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors. Internal factors within the network, such as organisational structure (including network size, control mechanisms, and member accountability) and resources (human, material, and informational), play a pivotal role in shaping drug trafficking organisations’ strategies. Additionally, external factors, including maritime dynamics, port economics, cultural aspects, and institutional determinants, significantly impact decision-making processes within these criminal organisations.

Identification of Precursors of MDMA in Unknown Substances in Sri Lanka

Government Analyst’s Department of Sri Lanka has observed a significant increase in the number of court case samples received for the analysis with regards to the synthetic drugs, amphetamine type stimulants (ATS), and synthetic cannabinoids recently. ‘Ecstasy’ or 3,4-methylenedioxymethampthetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine type, synthetic and psychoactive drug. The main precursors used for the synthesis of MDMA was 3,4- methylenedioxyphenyl- 2-propernone (3,4-MDP-2-P), Safrole and Isosafrole. The global control of the precursor compound led to decrease in the market supply of these drugs. The case containing four polysac bags marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively with white powder suspected to be MDMA was submitted to the Narcotic Laboratory of the Government Analyst’s Department (GAD) of Sri Lanka by the 0fficers of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for further examination of narcotic drug if any. After the extraction of the samples comprehensive analytical scheme including TLC, GC-MS and RAMAN spectroscopy was applied for the qualitative analysis. The results obtained from GCMS method confirmed the presence of 3,4-methlenedioxyphenyl-2-propernone (MDP-2-P) in the unknown substances in four samples and Isosafrole glycol in the sample no 1and 2. This is the first time 3,4-MDP-2-P and Isosafrole glycol was identified in the Narcotic Laboratory of the Government Analyst’ s Department. However, MDP -2-P and Isosafrole are precursor Chemicals listed in the Table 1 of first schedule of the convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and psychotropic substance Act No.1 of 2008 in Sri Lanka. The majority of the precursor chemicals that can be used in the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs have widespread licit use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. As such, their diversion from licit trade by drug trafficking organizations is the primary source of precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs.

Discussing the Legalisation of Recreational Cannabis Supply Chain: Will It Weaken Drug Trafficking Organisations?

Since the Netherlands’ tolerance policy, which allows the purchase of cannabis at ‘coffeeshops’, has been linked to issues of public order and safety, as well as dangers made by drug trafficking organisations, there has been a long debate regarding legalising cannabis production and supply. It was so decided to launch an experiment with a restricted legal (‘closed’) cannabis supply chain for recreational use. This has international implications due to the ongoing illegal cannabis exports from the Netherlands, the importance of sharing knowledge about the effectiveness of cannabis policy, and the accumulation of evidence required to review and revise international treaties. We will detail and discuss the experiment’s background, general approach, and design. In this experiment, ten trusted cannabis growers are contracted to manufacture and supply cannabis to coffeeshops in intervention municipalities, with product quality control, legal enforcement against criminal interference, and preventive measures to decrease health hazards in place. The cannabis supply to coffee cafes in participating control municipalities will remain unchanged. A process study will determine if the chain of production to sale in the intervention towns is indeed closed. In a quasi-experimental study comparing intervention and control communities, the chain’s effects on public health, cannabis-related crime, safety, and public annoyance will be assessed. Earlier experiences with medical cannabis in the United States, as well as limited access and production models in Europe, have provided valuable insights. However, these amendments go far further, introducing a new area of cannabis policy. The absence of empirical knowledge on the effects of such measures presents a problem for policymakers. As a result, establishing future legal changes will require a thorough grasp of the specifics of each country. The literature comparing Colorado’s and the Netherlands’ models is limited. This study is based on a thorough analysis of the policies, regulations, and discussions related to criminal activities common to drug trafficking organizations. The research and analysis presented herein will provide policymakers with a better understanding of the laws and regulations governing legal cannabis in these jurisdictions, as well as highlight some potential impacts and challenges of cannabis reform that require further consideration to ensure public safety and health.

An Agent-Based Model for Assessing the Resilience of Drug Trafficking Organizations to Law Enforcement Interventions

An Agent-Based Model for Assessing the Resilience of Drug Trafficking Organizations to Law Enforcement Interventions

Environmental scanning of cocaine trafficking in Brazil: Evidence from geospatial intelligence and natural language processing methods

Cocaine trafficking threatens countries' national security and is a major public health challenge. Cocaine is transported from producer countries to consumer markets using various routes, methods, and transportation means. These routes develop in the geographical environment, are carefully planned and are geo-strategic objects that respond to the opportunities that drug trafficking organisations (DTOs) find to reduce the risks of interdiction. In this sense, individual drug seizure data (IDS) become essential indicators for identifying trends and understanding trafficking flows associated with drug trafficking routes. However, due to the illicit nature of DTOs, the availability of these data is considerably limited, hindering the ability to analyse and identify trends. This study presents a methodology for collecting and processing data from open-source information reported by Brazil's federal government news website. Using geospatial intelligence and natural language processing methods, we created a dataset with 939 records and 44 variables related to cocaine seizures in Brazil in 2022. We applied geospatial analysis techniques from this dataset to identify trends and potential cocaine trafficking flows. The results were broadly consistent with existing literature on drug trafficking. They demonstrated the potential of open-source information for environmental scanning and knowledge generation through geographic information science. The approach proposed in our research provides tools that can be used to complement drug trafficking monitoring and formulate public policies to strengthen prevention and enforcement strategies.

Debunking the Myth of Nicaraguan Exceptionalism: Crime, Drugs and the Political Economy of Violence in a ‘Narco-state’

AbstractNicaragua is often held up as an exception within the Central American panorama of criminal violence, widely presented as the safest country in the region due to its particular revolutionary legacies, the (supposed) absence of transnational gangs and drug-trafficking organisations, and the National Police's representation as an efficient and professional force. This commentary proposes an alternative reading of Nicaragua's contemporary political economy of violence in order to reveal the profoundly misleading nature of this prevalent view. In particular, it highlights how Nicaragua is governed through a particular political ‘settlement’ underpinned by drug trafficking, police and judicial corruption, as well as ‘mafia state’ governance. These factors have coalesced to establish a highly efficient and engrained ‘narco-state’ whose undoing is unlikely in the short term.

El Salvador's Drug Experience in Mexico

This paper examines the potential for a comparable agreement in Mexico. In order to comprehend the viability of implementing El Salvador's experience, to determine whether negotiations or a violent approach has been effective in containing cartel violence. To check if there are any similarities between El Salvador's drug trafficking organizations and gangs. Mexico's drug cartels by gaining an understanding of both nations' landscapes. There is no hope of eliminating violence in these countries through violent means. Further divisions and the emergence of other, more aggressive organizations would follow. In the event of a civil war between cartels and states, highly trained security forces would be required to operate in a variety of terrains, such as deserts, jungles, and metropolitan areas.

Beyond money, power, and masculinity: Toward an analytical perspective on recruitment to Mexican drug trafficking organizations

Mexican drug trafficking organizations have experienced rapid attrition resulting in a continual need for personnel since 2006. However, the process by which these criminal organizations absorb new members remains obscure. In this article, we report on the social context of recruitment and motivational pathways into Mexican drug trafficking organizations through in-depth interviews with current and former cartel members ( N = 79). We find that recruits are motivated by aspirations of financial success and notions of masculinity, but also influenced by attachment to social groups and jointly shared experiences that we term a collective trajectory. We argue that individual decisions to join criminal organizations are viewed in collective terms, or being connected with members of their immediate social group. We conclude with the applications of challenges of collective trajectory for sociological criminology.

Policy enforcement in the presence of organized crime: Evidence from Rio de Janeiro

How does territorial control by organized crime groups affect the enforcement of public policies? We answer this question by studying the enforcement of social distancing policies in Rio de Janeiro during the COVID-19 crisis. Two criminal groups with distinct governance have de facto control over several areas of the city: drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and paramilitary groups (PGs). While the former funds itself mainly through the drug business, the second obtains most of its profits from extortion and illegal commerce of public services to citizens within their territories. This induces different responses to policies that reduce economic activity, such as those enacted in the pandemic. We document that in areas controlled by PGs, distancing was smaller than in government-ruled areas. On the other hand, DTOs’ turfs had similar social distancing to places controlled by the government.

Violent Drug Markets: Relation between Homicide, Drug Trafficking and Socioeconomic Disadvantages: A Test of Contingent Causation in Pereira, Colombia

The drug/violence relationship has been a recurrent topic of interest in criminology and sociology. This interest began with the crack epidemic in the 1980s and continues due to the consolidation and functioning of the cocaine markets of Latin American drug trafficking organizations. We approach the drug/violence relationship in Pereira (Colombia) which is strategic for the global cocaine market and for the Colombian domestic market. This city has an average homicide rate of 38.5 per 100,000 inhabitants (2010–2019). To test the drug/violence relationship, we used Goldstein’s systemic violence theory and Zimring and Hawkins’ contingent causality theory. We analyze the influence of socioeconomic and drug trafficking variables on homicides between the years 2010 and 2019. Our dataset comes from official Colombian government sources. We performed multivariate regression modeling through structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM). Our model was consistent and obtained statistical significance for all years, resulting in a good approximation to the study of the phenomenon. Based on the evidence, we can affirm that there is a relationship among violence/drug trafficking/socioeconomic disadvantages, thus confirming the contingent causation theory.

The Impact of the Presence of Drug-Trafficking Organizations on Academic Performance: Evidence from Mexico

The Impact of the Presence of Drug-Trafficking Organizations on Academic Performance: Evidence from Mexico

Hidden drivers of violence diffusion: Evidence from illegal oil siphoning in Mexico

This paper studies spatial violence diffusion when criminal organizations specializing in one illegal activity (e.g., drug trafficking) are attacked by security forces. Our theoretical framework suggests that violence diffusion will be linked to criminal diversification. Using the Mexican War on Drugs, we find evidence supporting this prediction. We document that the Mexican War on Drugs induced drug trafficking organizations to begin stealing hydrocarbon products from the Mexican oil pipeline network. In turn, this portfolio reallocation of illegal activities caused violence to escalate in oil pipeline network locations holding little strategic value for drug trafficking. Furthermore, within the pipeline network, branches located further away from the government’s eye were more susceptible to the establishment of criminal monopolies and thus experienced greater upticks in violence than other branches.

Why the Drug War Endures: Local and Transnational Linkages in the North and Central America Drug Trades

Honduras has been Central America’s focal point for drug trafficking towards the United States for years as the region’s main transit country. Recent court cases held in the United States have revealed the symbiotic relationship between state actors, business elites and drug trafficking organisations in contemporary Honduras, uncovering the blurred boundaries between the licit and illicit, the upper and underworld in the country. In this article, a drug-trafficking family – ‘Los Cachiros’ <em>transportista</em> (transport) group – is analysed as a case study with the aim of exploring state actors’ involvement in cocaine trafficking. Drawing on publicly available official judicial documents, this article explores the interpenetrations between formal and informal institutions in the country, arguing that state actors’ involvement in the drug trade in Honduras goes far beyond protection, and has evolved into a powerful network of public, private and criminal actors that has been able to capture the state’s basic sovereign functions with the aim of protecting and promoting their own private interests. In doing so, this article takes forward the state-crime nexus literature. Building on Hall’s (2018) networked approach in the study of illicit economies, this article proposes a conceptual framework to re-theorise the state-crime nexus as a transnationally networked set of relations, which considers the role of external states as actors of power within a country’s state-crime nexus. Looking at the unique relationship between Honduras and the United States, I argue that the concept is useful to understand the role of the United States as a transnational actor of power within the Honduran state-crime nexus.

Enablers of Cocaine Trafficking: Evidence of the State-Crime Nexus from Contemporary Honduras

Honduras has been Central America’s focal point for drug trafficking towards the United States for years as the region’s main transit country. Recent court cases held in the United States have revealed the symbiotic relationship between state actors, business elites and drug trafficking organisations in contemporary Honduras, uncovering the blurred boundaries between the licit and illicit, the upper and underworld in the country. In this article, a drug-trafficking family – ‘Los Cachiros’ <em>transportista</em> (transport) group – is analysed as a case study with the aim of exploring state actors’ involvement in cocaine trafficking. Drawing on publicly available official judicial documents, this article explores the interpenetrations between formal and informal institutions in the country, arguing that state actors’ involvement in the drug trade in Honduras goes far beyond protection, and has evolved into a powerful network of public, private and criminal actors that has been able to capture the state’s basic sovereign functions with the aim of protecting and promoting their own private interests. In doing so, this article takes forward the state-crime nexus literature. Building on Hall’s (2018) networked approach in the study of illicit economies, this article proposes a conceptual framework to re-theorise the state-crime nexus as a transnationally networked set of relations, which considers the role of external states as actors of power within a country’s state-crime nexus. Looking at the unique relationship between Honduras and the United States, I argue that the concept is useful to understand the role of the United States as a transnational actor of power within the Honduran state-crime nexus.

Supply-side predictors of fatal drug overdose in the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA region: 2016-2020.

Rising rates of fentanyl- and polydrug-involved drug overdose deaths have prompted inquiry into the role of drug supply in fatal overdose outcomes in the United States. To date, however, there have been few empirical investigations of drug enforcement strategies on fatal overdose rates, despite knowledge that both drug use and supply are often geographically distributed. To address this limitation, we examined measures of drug enforcement as predictors of next-year fatal overdose rates in the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (W/B HIDTA). We conducted mixed-effects models to examine the role of drug seizures and disruption in drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and money laundering organizations (MLOs) on fatal overdose rates over a 5-year period (2016-2020) across 45 local jurisdictions in the W/B HIDTA region. Outcomes included any, opioid-involved, and fentanyl-involved fatal overdose. Adjusting for covariates, both the total number of drug seizures and amount of cocaine seized (in dosage units per capita) positively predicted next-year opioid- and fentanyl-involved fatal overdose rates. Disruption to DTO and MLO operations did not significantly predict next-year fatal overdose rates for any outcome. Supply-side enforcement activities alone may have limited impact on reducing fatal overdose rates, but may serve as important markers to identify communities at high risk of fatal overdose and facilitate targeted intervention. Our findings underscore the importance of comprehensive law enforcement approaches that extend beyond drug enforcement to integrate prevention, linkage to treatment, and harm reduction strategies as needed to address the overdose epidemic.

Tangential Movements: How feminist organizing against gender-based violence offers an alternative avenue for protesting drug violence in Latin America

In the last fifty years, Latin America witnessed both a stark rise in violence between drug trafficking organizations and militarized police forces, as well as a significant expansion of social movements. Few movements, however, have explicitly mobilized against drug violence due to the extreme dangers of speaking out against armed and corrupt actors. In this paper, we extend our understanding of social movements and drug violence by analyzing the relationship between feminist movements against gender-based violence—or feminist anti-violence (FAV)—and drug violence. We conceive FAV as a “tangential movement” to drug-related violence, mobilizing around its root causes and consequences without directly targeting its perpetrators. The paper examines case studies of feminist anti-violence movements in three cities: Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela; and Medellín, Colombia. We show that as feminist movements mobilize against gender-based violence, they provide an alternative, and safer, avenue for citizens to mobilize against drug-related violence by working to (a) curb intimate forms of abuse and trauma that create intergenerational cycles of violence; (b) decrease impunity by demanding the state hold perpetrators of violence accountable; (c) strengthen government institutions and their relations with civic organizations, thereby helping enforce democracy and human rights; (d) challenge patriarchal notions of violent masculinity; and (e) organize against structural inequality that bolsters participation in the drug trade. By considering how feminist anti-violence movements help address the underlying causes of drug violence, we can identify new pathways for organizing around human security in contexts where direct channels of confrontation are too risky.