Drug Related Violence Escalates in Central America

After the United States Coast Guard shut down the Caribbean cocaine route two decades ago, trade shifted to Mexico. As a result, violence related to drug cartels rose sharply in many parts of Mexico. However, it is the high demand of drugs in the United States that finances these drug operations and arms the drug cartels. Consequently the Mexican government sent out effective aggressive assaults against these cartels, to the point where some of the organized crime moved to the smaller Central American countries south of Mexico. But unlike Mexico, countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, have weak governments and fragile infrastructure, and are unable to fight back against the drug mafias. The lack of action from the governments have earned the reputation of being the most violent places on earth, even more deadly than conventional war zones. If the small Central American countries wish to succeed in the war against organized crime, they will need to reform prisons, police, and courts; strengthen infrastructure to collect more taxes, and provide more legal opportunities for young men. For this changes to take place, Central America will require the help of the United States, not only because they have the means of helping but also because their bad drug policies and consumer demand contributed to the growth of the drug cartels.

-Gilberto Perez