INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS REVIEW

Created: 8/1/1995

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

International Narcotics

International Narcotics Review

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i>afflcking: Potential Impacl of Cali Mafia Setbacks

Although we do not discount the continued viability of Colombiansustained disruptions to their operations arc likely to increase further opportunities for major Mexican traffickers to gain addiuonal leverage in the cocaine trade. Major Mexican drug-trafficking organizations are well positioned to take advantage of Ihe unprecedented difficulties facingrug mafia caused by the incarceration of six top Cali drug lords and by sustained pressure on the Peru-to-Cokwnbta cocaine airbridge The partnership* that major Mexican traffickers have established with the Colombian drug mafia give them the networks and experience to becorric involved in all facets of the cocaine trade in latin America. Wc believe leading Mexican groups will begin jockeying for position to gain greater control of international cocaine trafficking if Colombian trafficking groups remain preoccupied for an extended period with reducing their vulnerability and realigning their leadership|

The Cali traffickers' need to adjust operations to take accounl of theagainst them in Colombia could enhance the leverage of the major Mexican drugspecialize in moving drugs into the Uniteddetermining the terms and conditions of their narcotics transactions. ]

may become more attractive to Mexican traffickers if the Cali drug mafia's troubles in Colombia disrupt cocaine shipments. Moreover. Peruviannetworks are likely to take advantage of the situation io gain greater profits by increasing their own cocaine processing and by trying to make inroads ai ihe Colombians' expense in Mexico. | |

In facilitating the transshipment of cocaine through Mexico, the largetrafficking organizations have developed sophisticated transportation infrastructures and methods, in conjunction with ihe Colombians, lhal ihey can use to acquire cocaine from more dislant suppliers. The Mexicans'

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experience in receiving multilon cocaine .shipments from Colombia on long-range commercial cargo jets may give them the option to bypass Colombia and acquire cocaine directly from Peru or Bolivia. Because the larger Mexican trafficking organizations have greater experience and resources than Peruvian and Bolivian traffickers, they areetterto assume traditional Colombian roles and services 3nd would probably

become the dominant partner in any trafficking relationship.

This could entail Mexican developmentarge-scale cocaine processing industry in an effort lo gain control over ihe cocaine trade. Domestic cocaine processing would allow Mexican traffickers to circumvent further ihe Colombians and to increase their control over ihe price and quality of cocaine, which could mean greater profits.roducer of marijuana, heroin, and meihamphetamine, Mexico has well-established narcotics networks thai can be adapted to produce large volumes of cocaine hydrochloride. Because coca is not grown in Mexico. Mexican traffickers would rely on cocaine base shipments from Peru and Bolivia.

l.iiiinRecord MethaqualoneSeizure (U)

In earlyexican officials seizedof bulk methaqualoneelhaqualonelargest methaqualone seizure in Mexican history. The dominant trafficker identified behind the shipment is llumberto Rodriguezop lieutenant in the Mexico-based Arellano Felix organization, which transports cocaine, methamphctaminc, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States. Methaqualoneynthetic sedative hallucinogen thatigh potential for 3buse and no current accepted medical use. It was marketed in the Uniled States under various brand names, such as Quaaludc and Sopor. Mandraxuropean name for melhaqualone in combination with an antihistamine!

Original document.

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