Colombian Drug Trafficking

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Colombian Drug Trafficking

• By Shaun Millerick

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General Information

• Formerly known as the Republic of Colombia, the
  country is located in Northwestern South America
  bordering Venezuela , Brazil, and the Pacific
  Ocean.
• Colombia became its own country in 1819 after
  winning independence from Spain.
• Population is 45,393,050, 29th largest in the
  world.

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General Info Cont.

• Longest standing political parties-Liberal and
  Conservative Parties.
• Ethnic Groups in Columbia
• -57 Mestizo
• -21 Black
• -20 White
• -1 Amerindian

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The Issue

• Production and selling of illegal drugs in the
  country.
• Illegal drugs being used.
• -Coca (powerful stimulant contains cocaine.
• -Marijuana
• -Other psychoactive drugs
• These drugs are being shipped to foreign
  countries including the US, and sold there for
  big bucs.
• Colombia is the worlds largest drug producing
  countries, and produces 90 of the worlds
  cocaine.

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Drug Cartels

• Large, ruthless criminal groups that organize
  drug trafficking, and commit serious crimes
  including kidnapping and murder to anyone who
  gets in their way.
• Not only do these groups deal with government
  organizations, but they are also competing
  against rival groups in the country.
• Major Drug Cartels
• -Medellin Cartel
• -Cali Cartel
• -Norte del Valle Cartel
• -North Coast Cartel

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Reduction of Production

• The production and consumption of cocaine and
  opiaties were prohibited to be produced in 1914,
  with the Harrison Narcotics Act. (based on same
  US act)
• Marijuana, tobacco and alcohol were later
  prohibited in 1937 by the Colombian government.

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War on Drugs

• In 1971 US and other countries enforced military
  support in Colombia to reduce the production and
  trafficking of illegal drugs.
• United States President, Richard Nixon coined the
  phrase, War on Drugs.
• This campaign still exists today and continue
  to battle drug cartels.

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Why should We Care?

• Reducing the amount of drugs being produced and
  sold in Columbia will in turn reduce the amount
  of illegal drugs that get shipped to the United
  States and sold here.
• Keeping these drugs out of our country should be
  very important, and should not have a place here!