How drug barons infiltrate government officials (Part 1)

By Rekpene Bassey

The drive to survive is a fundamental principle in the underworld of illegal drugs. Known as narco-survivalism, it is deeply ingrained and fuels a relentless determination to continue the trade. From the highest echelons of drug lords to the lowliest street dealers, this ethos permeates every level of the hierarchy. As this mindset persists, it fosters a sense of vigilance, prompting the construction of a protective fortress around the lucrative and powerful drug trade.

Each cartel meticulously builds its formidable shield, layer by layer, to safeguard its operations. Any hint of internal discord is strictly forbidden, and external threats are met with ruthless retaliation.

These cartels are structured around a complex web of financial control, cultivation, production, packaging, concealment, and distribution. They comprise a diverse array of individuals, including veterans, merchants, and dealers.

At the helm of these organisations are the barons, surrounded by highly trained personnel armed with advanced weaponry, sophisticated communication and security systems, and substantial financial resources.

The meticulously organized structure within the illicit drug trade is driven by several distinct motives. Foremost among these is the immense profitability of the industry, which generates trillions of dollars worldwide.

These vast sums are subsequently laundered into various sectors such as hospitality, real estate, oil and gas, electronics, automotive, machinery, education, banking, and others.

Annual profits from drug trafficking globally are estimated to range from $7trn to $10trn, surpassing even the retail value of petroleum and ranking second only to the arms trade. For instance, a kilogram of high-quality heroin in Pakistan can command a price exceeding $7,000.

Given the enormous financial stakes involved, protection becomes paramount within the illicit narcotics enterprise. Responsibility for narco-protection typically falls to powerful narcotic families, whose reach extends across all five continents. The primary regions of focus include the Silver Triangle of Latin America, primarily involved in cocaine trafficking, and the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle, dominating the Asian heroin trade.

Notable figures in this global network include Kum Sa, a key player in the Golden Crescent/Triangle, and Caro Quintero, who led the Mexican cartel under the Silver Triangle. Roberto Suarez controlled the Bolivian faction, while Pablo Escobar, at the height of his power, headed the Medellin Cartel in Colombia. Additionally, prominent syndicates such as the Japanese Yakuza, boasting over 90,000 members across 3,000 groups, and the Jamaican Posses, also play significant roles in the international drug trade.

The global landscape of organized crime extends further with groups like the Chinese Triad, boasting a membership of over 300,000 worldwide. Additionally, organizations like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mafia, derived from the phrase “Morte alia Francia anela,” have significant influence.

The Mafia, comprising over 5,000 individuals organized into 25 “families” federated under a commission, traces its origins back to 1282 in Palermo, Italy, initially formed with noble political objectives against French oppression.

In Africa, surrogates of Gulf cartels and cartels from the Americas, such as those in Guinea-Bissau, have emerged since the early 1980s. These groups seized the opportunity presented by the economic decline in African nations to redirect illicit drugs from Asia and the United States to Europe and America through Africa. This shift occurred due to increased pressure on primary narcotics routes by the US government and its European allies.

The intensified efforts of the US Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) against cartels in the Silver Triangle may have prompted the search for new heroin and cocaine trans-shipment routes, including the establishment of processing laboratories in Africa. Allegations surfaced regarding the discovery of a cocaine (crack variety) laboratory in Ghana in 1993. Other clandestine labs may exist in African countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Benin Republic, Mauritius, Nigeria, and South Africa.

African drug criminals play a significant role in supplying or trans-shipping some of the world’s finest marijuana, cannabis resins, Colorado, khat, Methamphetamines, and other substances. They also smuggle cocaine and heroin to Western nations. While the pattern of illicit drug trade in Africa lacks uniformity, many African countries have been thoroughly infiltrated by the drug underworld.

Despite internal efforts to establish robust networks of protection, often solidified through familial connections, the top priority for drug czars worldwide remains to ensure the smooth flow of their products. This strategy hinges on establishing low-risk channels for distributing their goods, as the interruption of demand outlets could severely impact their supply.

To minimize risks, drug kingpins employ various cover strategies, including enlisting “muscles” or contacting men within the underworld. These muscles may include Drug Enforcement Agents (referred to as fuzzies), judges, top lawyers, political figures, high-ranking military and police officers, customs and immigration officials, and well-connected business executives.

For a fee, these contact men ensure that drug shipments (nicknamed supplies) avoid detection by law enforcement (referred to as hard fuzzies). However, these muscles, often government officials themselves, are carefully selected to either facilitate smooth passage or provide necessary protection against potential obstacles along trade routes.

The successful infiltration of top government officials provides drug syndicates with access to the structures they represent. Initiation of government officials into these networks typically occurs through three methods: subtle contact, blackmail, and intimidation.

Subtle contact involves indirect approaches through agents, close associates, or preliminary inquiries to gauge the officials’ willingness to cooperate. Officials who demonstrate financial vulnerability are prime targets. Contacts are then established through various means, such as home visits, office meetings, phone calls, travel encounters, or social gatherings. In contrast, organisations like the Japanese Yakuza openly advertise for membership.

Rekpene Bassey is the President of the African Council on Narcotics (ACON) and a Security Specialist.