Part 6/15:
Vargas concurs, noting China’s long-term strategic greenmail through land ownership and infiltration into American institutions, but underscores that cartels' operational proximity and their financial and logistical control make them a more pressing concern today, especially given their capacity to manipulate markets and law enforcement.
Debunking Myths: The Nature of Cartel Infiltration
One common misconception among Americans is that cartels are primarily a southern Mexico problem. Both experts agree this is dangerously false. Schultz stresses that cartels have established deep roots within US and Canadian economies, governments, and communities—extending their influence not only across borders but into mainstream society.