Anyone who keeps tabs on international crime would find it hard not to notice the increasing power of drug cartels in Mexico. Every week headlines report kidnappings, murders, and corruption related to drug trafficking in Mexico. As the cartels become more powerful, they infiltrate the government, the courts, and law enforcement. If you are an honest cop trying to stop the drug trade, not only your life, but your family, can end up in grave danger.

Mexico has long had issues with corruption. Poorly paid and trained law enforcement are vulnerable to bribery. And the United States and Europe seem to have an insatiable hunger for cocaine and other drugs.

Cocaine has fueled much of the violence. As Columbia cracked down on drug trafficking and the United States began successfully stopping the flow of cocaine through the Caribbean, the cartels connected with Mexican organizations to find new drug routes. Most of the cocaine coming into the United States passes through Mexico now.

The Mexican cartels quickly expanded from mere traffickers, creating distribution arms throughout the U.S. Through extortion and other criminal activities, cartels seem to have taken Mexico hostage.

In recent years, the government has become better equipped to deal with traffickers. They are, in effect, in a critical phase right now, the same one Columbia went through 20 years ago. As they crack down, violence naturally increases as cartels fight for supremacy and trafficking becomes more challenging. More cartel players have been extradited to face trial in the United States. In Columbia, a similar pattern of increased violence occurred, but the country rebelled and took down two of the more infamous cartels – the Cali and Medillin cartels.

For Mexico to succeed in taking down the cartels, they will need to reform law enforcement and the judicial system, weeding out corruption and increasing their ability to handle the workload.

Demand in the United States continues to be the elements of drug trafficking we tend to overlook. People who use cocaine casually might be more influenced by educational campaigns that strive to open their eyes about the devastating impact drug trafficking has on families throughout Mexico. For those with addiction, better access to treatment has long been needed in the U.S.