The United Nations (UN) has warned of the expansion of drug trafficking and violence caused by organized crime in Latin America.
However, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) clarified that these are not the region’s only challenges.
In this context, UNODC also pointed to serious, growing problems, such as corruption, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and the worrying increase in the use of illicit drugs.
As part of her trip to Buenos Aires for the signing of the first joint counter-narcotics project between the United Nations, the United States, and Argentina, UNODC Representative for the Andean Region and the Southern Cone Candice Welsch chaired a meeting and stressed that the structure of drug trafficking today is “much more complex” than it used to be.
“Pablo Escobar controlled the entire production chain to the final sale. That’s not the case today; it’s much more complex than it used to be.”
“Some groups grow and process all the cocaine. There are also those at the transportation level. Other groups are involved in distribution.”
According to her, “there are groups that operate exclusively nationally and others that have a regional network.”
She also warned that conflicts of interest between these criminal organizations often lead to many acts of violence.
“For example, if we look at murders, the worst is in Mexico, but there are also murders in Colombia and many other countries.”
“Latin America is the worst region in the world regarding homicides.”
“This shows the impact of drugs and crime in this region.”
According to her, international organizations and countries must work together to curb the increasing violence.
Although there are countries where homicides have decreased, as in the case of Colombia, Welsch acknowledged that there had been significant setbacks in other cases.
One is Haiti, a country the UNODC representative toured before taking office.
“It’s a terrible situation and really sad.”
“There is total control in Haiti by the gangsters there.”
Welsch acknowledged that these groups benefit from corruption for these criminal structures to function.
“To make all this possible, they must launder the drug trade money.”
“Often other actors help with this, and to make all this possible, there is also corruption.”
Welsch also pointed out that in 2021, there was a “significant increase” in the production area in cocaine-growing countries.
Colombia saw the most significant increase at 40%, followed by Peru (30%) and Bolivia (4%).
This is followed by countries considered “transit countries,” including Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, and, more recently, Argentina.
The influx goes mainly to North America (United States and Canada) and further to Europe:
“They come to Europe through Africa, which has very serious consequences because the West African countries are impoverished and do not have sufficient capacity to deal with this problem.”
“This increases violence, problematic drug use, and corruption.”
“North America remains the largest market, followed by Europe.”
She cautioned that the market in South America is “very big.”
“I think we tend to forget that and think it’s just North America and Europe.”
“But there is also problematic consumption in the region.”