convergence

The Illicit Supply Chain
6 In 2010, Guinea-Bissau was ranked 175 out of 177 countries on the United Nations Human Development
index.
7 “U.S. Names Two Guinea-Bissau Military Men ‘Drug Kingpins,’“ BBC News, April 9, 2010, available at
.
8 Ed Vulliamy, “How a Tiny West African Country Became the World’s First Narco-State,” The Guardian,
March 9, 2008, available at .
9 Kevin Sullivan, “Route of Evil,” The Washington Post, May 25, 2008, available at .
10 The term cartel is used commonly to describe Mexican narcotics illicit networks, and this practice is adopted
herein. In actuality, a cartel is a combination of independent organizations that unite to limit competition or fix prices
(for example, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). Mexican cartels are ruthlessly fighting one
another for control of drug supply routes, so technically the term is incorrect. The term drug-trafficking organization
also falls short in that it fails to capture the other criminal activities the organization sometimes pursues (for example,
human trafficking and prostitution).
11 Chris Burritt, “Why Wal-Mart wants to take the Driver’s Seat,” Bloomsburg Businessweek, May 2010, available
at .
12 National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), National Drug Threat Assessment 2009, Product No. 2008-
Q0317-005 (Washington, DC: Department of Justice, 2008).
13 Douglas Farah, “Money Laundering and Bulk Cash Smuggling: Challenges for the Merida Initiative,” Working
Paper on U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation, The Woodrow Wilson International Institute for Scholars, Washington,
DC, May 2010.
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 “70 tied to Mexico drug cartel busted in Arizona,” Reuters, October 31, 2011, available at .
18 Farah.
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid.
21 Charlie Morasch, “Indiana drug seizure reveals Mexican cartels’ infiltration in states,” Land Line, October
28, 2011.
22 Farah.
23 Ibid.
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 Government Accountability Office, Testimony Before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control,
“Moving Illegal Proceeds: Opportunities Exist for Strengthening the Federal Government’s Efforts to Stem
Cross-Border Currency Smuggling,” March 9, 2011.
27 Ibid.
28 Farah.
29 See Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Web site.
30 Julian Aguilar, “Money-Laundering Case Speaks to Border Fears,” The New York Times, November 12, 2011,
available at .
31 Ibid.
32 Ibid.
33 Farah.
34 Ibid.
35 Department of State.
36 “Mexico town’s police force resigns over drug attacks,” BBC News, August 4, 2011, available at .
37 Ibid.
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