Corruption

Since the beginning of the drug prohibition war, the drug trade has ballooned, spreading violence and corruption across large parts of the globe. Despite billions spent on combating them drug traffickers have for decades outwitted the authorities, keeping consumers in North America and Europe supplied at a price and purity that remains remarkably consistent despite law enforcement officials around the world frequently heralding the dismantling of trafficking networks.

"There is a growing perception that the 'war on drugs' approach has failed," the Global Commission on Drug Policies said in a statement, as it began an inaugural two day meeting in Geneva. "Eradication of production and criminalization of consumption did not reduce drug traffic and drug use," the commission said. It concluded that the harm from corruption and violence resulting from prohibition "largely exceeds the harm caused by drugs."

The Mexican Army's military jurisdiction privileges are being reviewed by Cto determine the nature of several cases in which drug traffickers bribed troops and military leaders. Emeequis Magazine revealed some of the files being reviewed, showing how members of the Juarez and Sinaloa drug organizations infiltrated Mexican military intelligence, particularly the Anti-drug Information Center (AIC). In addition, transcripts of several phone calls involving active and former military personnel show how they worked as an information network that would alert drug traffickers regarding possible military operations against them.