Compare the intelligence function and effectiveness of the U.S. counter-narcotics agencies with that of the narcotics traffickers.
“Plata O Plomo” Money or lead has been the guiding principle of drug trafficking organizations, which seems to resonate throughout the comparison of U.S. counter-narcotics agencies and narcotic traffickers. Any time a U.S. agency or even a local government applies pressure to a DTO in such a way that it has an effect on their income the lead starts flying. From any angle the DTO is squeezed they will respond with violence, intimidation, corruption, and more money than most Fortune 500 companies.
While U.S. agencies are limited by annual budgets and following laws, DTO’s have a growing surplus of money which is fueled by the U.S. populations demand for narcotics and have no duty to follow anything that resembles a law. When it comes to comparing intelligence functions of U.S. agencies and DTO’s there are many areas that deviate for the DTO.
While governmental agencies must adhere to the laws of the land like the 4th and 5th amendment, the DTO or its associates have no laws. The DTO uses its lawlessness to recruit or intimidate the local populace, they bribe, intimidate, or kill public officials which in turn leads to a psychological state in which locals wont dare to turn in a member of a DTO or assist authorities in any manner for fear of reprisal from the DTO. Some of these DTO’s have gone so far as to enlisting foreign paramilitary groups to protect their assets; these groups have training in counter-intelligence, assassination, and guerilla warfare.
The DTO’s have a far greater success rate of utilizing HUMINT in my opinion as a counter to any U.S. agency intelligence action; they have the funding and extreme violence to cause so much fear that there a few that are willing to turn on the DTO. The level of fear that these DTO’s have created from years of violence stretches far deeper than personal safety for someone who is turning on the DTO, it stretches to their family their friends and the realization that just because this person may cross an international border doesn’t mean they are out of reach of the DTO and its associates.
Both U.S. agencies and DTO’s are capable of conducting a multitude of intelligence functions, the biggest issue is that the DTO’s know that they are being watched but are willing to take a loss at anytime because the demand for narcotics will always be there and has statistically increased in the past several years. If a U.S. agency interdicts one load it is almost guaranteed that multiple loads have made it through to their destination.
We as the U.S. are unable to fight this drug war on other countries soil, we can provide money but we can’t fix corruption. We can provide people but it’s at a limited amount that can’t compare to what the country could provide and while there is a demand there is money to be made.
References
Brands, Hal 2009, Mexico’s Narco-Insurgency and U.S. Counter Drug Policy
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/security-and-global-studies-common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL446/Content/Week%208/MexicoNarcoInsurgency.pdf
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