Part 5/7:
Brown indicates that Sheinbaum may feel these cartels are too embedded into Mexico’s economy, generating $50 billion annually in illicit revenue. Should her government attempt to neutralize these cartels effectively, it would risk devastating impacts not only on the structures of the cartels themselves but also on the Mexican economy as a whole.
A Critical View on the Situation
The dialogue encapsulates a severe irony: the cartels are seen as not only enemies and suppliers of narcotics leading to mass casualties in the U.S., but also as essential economic players in Mexico. While narcotics use in Mexico is increasing, its scale remains significantly lower than in the U.S., leading to the conclusion that the main impact of cartels is felt north of the border.