NCJ Number
130349
Journal
Crime, Law and Social Change Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (July 1991) Pages: 41-58
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article examines the patterns and history of drug trafficking and drug-related corruption in Mexico.
Abstract
Corruption is such a persistent fact of Mexican political life that the U.S. Government handbook on Mexico includes corruption under a section on the rules of political competition. There are basically two forms of corruption, bribes paid to low-level officials and large-scale corruption such as contract kickbacks and insider financial deals. Five phases of narcocorruption in Mexico are identified: (1) before 1960 to about 1965 when drug traffickers bought their licenses or franchises from local chiefs, police commanders, mayors, local government officials, or land owners; (2) from 1962 to 1982 when the Federal Security Directorate dominated and continued the tradition of links between drug traffickers and government officials; (3) from 1982 to 1985 when narcocorruption activities of police and other government officials became even more evident; (4) from 1985 to 1990 when military narcocorruption was prominent; and (5) a return to the centrally controlled aspects of phases two and three since 1990. The author contends that the level of drug trafficking and corruption has not changed over the years; only the players are different. 63 notes (Author abstract modified)