|
Some years back, when La Familia, was gaining ground in Michoacan, besides shock events like rolling heads across the dance-floor, some of the narcomensajes, distinguished between those dealers that protect, 'women and children', and others(the murdered ones) who don't. This latter group was sometimes, identified by La Familia's messages as guys dealing with 'meth'.
Especially those with local laboratories, churning out product for the local market.
As if somehow implying a hierarchy of drug dealing. 'Meth' use/dealing-super-bad/destroyer of families/values etc. Cocaine, marijuana trafficking especially on route to the U.S./Canada. A different. scene?
Perhaps some drug traffickers distinguish between 'trafficking', as a business opportunity, enabling them to provide for their families but really against the use of same drugs in their homes and communities. Especially selling to children and teens.
However, the above comments fall more into line with the 'Robin Hood'/macho ideal scenario. Which may or may not exist or be changing.
My experience with drugs/gangs in Mexico had more to do with young men, undereducated, poor families, few job opportunites beyond the minimum wage category, perhaps some of them even lazy, seeking an easier way to make money than laboring, sliding into personal drug use. Then getting into dealing to support habits and ripe for recruitment into gangs with larger agendas.
Back then, it was 'gomme' resin-like substance, a cheap high, and marijuana, cheap, plentiful and easy to grow if so inclined. Over the last ten years, understand, that in the same small towns/ among the same/similiar people, other Mexicans have introduced them to heroine and crack cocaine etc. Hooking them. And then enabling them through gangs, to deal and steal in a more organized fashion, compared to free-lance enterprise.
Of course, if you're from the U.S/Canada/Europe, much of dynamics above will sound familiar. However ten years ago, according to our Mexican friends, there wasn't much hard drug use outside certain social circles and larger metro centers.
That has apparently changed. Besides the drug trafficking beyond Mexico, am led to believe, that the domestic market for product is growing steadily.
As the economic condition, declines. Desparate times/ desparate measures.
Especially in light of increasing violence and armed robbery. Before petty thievery was an opportunistic way of life. No harm to the 'person'.
And if you know anything about Catholicism in Mexico, this is an important distinction between crimes to people and crimes to property.
However, the times they are a'changing. And past experience may not determine future outcomes.
|
Login
Register
Arcade
FAQ
Search
