Part 4/11:
However, serious concerns exist. Unlike traditional privateering, which involved seizing assets that could often be sold for profit, drug cartels’ assets primarily comprise illicit goods—drugs and contraband—that cannot be legally sold or freely seized. This complicates the legal and financial underpinnings of privateering. Furthermore, issues of accountability arise; private actors might blur the lines between law enforcement and vigilantism, risking escalation of violence, diplomatic conflicts, and potential abuse of power through corruption or co-option.