PERCEPTIONS OF MEXICO, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

I chose to locate half this story in Mexico because of what I love about Mexico, not because I have a desire to discourage friendship, trade or tourism between our countries. However, the US and Mexico share considerable pain because of our interrelated and problematic drug policies. US gangs and Mexican cartels have responded with aggressive recruitment and competitive wars against each other and against law enforcement.

Thousands of parents have lost children to drugs and drug crime; thousands of children have lost beloved parents, siblings, friends and family in the same way. We need to create more effective solutions, especially since the United States citizens who use smuggled drugs are funding the violence and growth of Mexico’s cartels and US gangs.

George Grayson’s report, published by the US Army Strategic Studies Institute, states that of the one hundred ninety-four independent nations who have diplomatic relations with the U.S., “…none is more important to America than Mexico, in terms of trade, investment, tourism, natural resources, immigration, energy, and security.” I would add that Mexico’s wellbeing is extremely important to the United States––because our shared 1,993-mile border (700 miles already fenced) is a fated relationship.

Mexico has suffered horrific difficulties because of the drug trade we share, and US citizens are sidelined into prison culture by the thousands every year, many with serious drug addiction problems. What happens to their children? Consider this study: The Drug-Addiction Epidemic Creates Crisis in Foster Care by Teresa Wiltz (2016) Pew Charitable Trusts/Research and Analysis, states “The tragedy of drug addiction is extended to the children of addicts, who are overwhelming the foster care resources of every state.”

 The foster care system had many financial and logistical challenges prior to the current level of drug-related foster care placements. The legislation that was to address these needs, the Family First Prevention Services Act, HR5456 has not received enough support in Congress to pass.  Congress has also failed to support more comprehensive drug addiction treatment for the parents of children in foster care.

Canada has its unique drug use patterns and economy, costing approximately 23 billion dollars a year, and Mexican cocaine is in increasing demand. Latin American traffickers are taking advantage of the Canada-US easy-access border. It is the longest border in the world (5,525 miles) and is regularly scouted and crossed by Latin American drug smugglers. Traffickers are using 100-foot-long submarines––each one built to smuggle two tons of drugs northward, some for direct coastal delivery in the U.S., more for Canadian users. Most submarine deliveries are destined for Canada, to be distributed back into the US. Hundreds of these submarines have been constructed, and production is continuing at a steady pace. One jungle production camp was verified to have produced over 70 in one year. (Joint Interagency Task Force, USA, Rear Admiral Charles Michael, June 19, 2012).

In September 2016, the US Coast Guard intercepted and boarded a self-propelled semisubmersible, carrying more than 5,600 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of 73 million dollars. This interdiction brought the total amount of cocaine seized in fiscal year 2016 (10/1/15 to 9/30/16) to over 416,600 pounds––an amount valued at more than $5.6 billion. (Business Insider.com).

We have friends, family, political relationships, trade, and a huge criminal drug industry crossing our north and south borders. Despite cartel and gang crime, there are still many places in Mexico and the US that provide some of the most hospitable and safe destinations in the world. Will we be able to say that in ten years? Only if we act to change our failed drug policies and the laws that enforce them. A viral phenomenon is spreading; inaction is not an intelligent choice.

Education regarding the components of the drug crisis is the first step toward a workable solution. Section III has an overview of publications relevant to crime and drug policies for readers who are interested in understanding and influencing the history and the scope of these problems.