Title: Illegal drug trade in Latin America - Wikipedia
Headings: Illegal drug trade in Latin America
Illegal drug trade in Latin America
Contents
United States and Latin American drug control
Colombia
Peru
Guatemala
Mexico
Puerto Rico
Legalization debate
Drugs and government corruption
See also
References
External links

Content: Mexican cartels are currently considered the "greatest organized crime threat" to the United States. Since February 2010, the major Mexican cartels have again aligned in two factions, one integrated by the Juárez Cartel, Tijuana Cartel, Los Zetas and the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel; the other faction integrated by the Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel and La Familia Cartel. Prior to the Mexican cartels' rise, the Colombian Cali cartel and Medellín cartel dominated in the late 1980s and early 90s. Following their demise, the Norte del Valle cartel has filled the Colombian vacuum, along with rightwing paramilitaries (e.g. United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, AUC) and leftwing insurgent groups ( FARC, ELN ). As a result of the concentration of drug trafficking, Latin America and the Caribbean has the world's highest crime rates, with murder reaching 32.6 per 100,000 of population in 2008. Violence has surged in Mexico since 2006 when Mexican President Felipe Calderón intensified the Mexican Drug War. Contents
1 United States and Latin American drug control
1.1 Colombia
1.2 Peru
1.3 Guatemala
1.4 Mexico
1.5 Puerto Rico
2 Legalization debate
3 Drugs and government corruption
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
United States and Latin American drug control
Since 2008, the U.S. Congress has supported the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) with approximately $800 million to "fund programs for narcotics interdiction, strengthening law enforcement and justice institutions and violence prevention through work with at-risk youth". The CARSI offers equipment (vehicles and communication equipment), technical support and guidance to counter drug trade. The program also supports special units that cooperate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Guatemala and Honduras to investigate drug cartels, share intelligence, and promote regional collaboration.