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During the 1980s, most U.S. drug trafficking was dominantly focused on cocaine arriving via Caribbean routes. However, increased enforcement led to a paradigm shift, compelling traffickers like El Chapo to adapt and innovate. The Sinaloa Cartel capitalized on two crucial changes: the focus of drug traffic shifted toward Mexico, and the cultivation of alternative drugs became paramount. Opium and marijuana could be produced in Mexico, thus maintaining the cartel's supply chain integrity while navigating new challenges.