Part 3/6:
Drawing Attention and Its Consequences
Far from being perfectly profitable operations, cartel activities appear to have a paradoxical effect: they draw more government and law enforcement attention. This increased scrutiny could lead to more arrests, increased patrols, and tighter security measures, which ultimately could be detrimental to the cartels' operations.
This raises questions about their motivations. If profit was their core motive, one might expect them to minimize risk and public attention. Yet, their actions often suggest otherwise, possibly indicating that their objectives include factors beyond simple profit—such as territorial control, intimidation, or political influence.