Sunday, February 17, 2019

Then we got it now

Drug cartels, whether in Colombia or Mexico, cannot function without massive assistance from compromised officials at all levels. Corruption is the oxygen that keeps organized crime alive.I know something about corruption and organized crime. I spent more than six years in the biggest, richest syndicate in the history of crime -- the Cali cartel. And I know that Mexico, like Colombia, can't succeed against its drug gangs without choking off much of the bribery and intimidation that sustain them.First, some background: I used to be Jorge Salcedo. I left my name in Colombia when I entered the U.S. witness protection program 16 years ago. I also left a home, a country, friends, family, even my past. But maybe my experience will help show the importance of fighting corruption as a way to fight the cartels.My primary job in the Cali cartel was security for one of four godfathers, Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, the daily operations boss. Others were more directly involved in routine bribery, but I still managed to deliver nearly a million dollars in payoffs. And I witnessed many, many millions more.
It is likely everywhere going through non-profit channels, more than likely. We have official poice corruption, no doubt, but the cartel keeps production in Mexico, and on distribution they need only worry the crossing cost.  Soft bribery does the trick, and the money levels will be higher.

So, skip the battle, take the trade. The cartels will lose the meth and fentanyl trade sooner or later, let them keep the cocaine trade now.  No one has to take them on directly on the issue, they quietly agree. This is the status quo ante we all want, the cure.

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