Course Overview

Mexican Cartels are impacting communities in nearly every city in the United States.  This problem can no longer be viewed as a “Border Issue.” Most of the drugs distributed and consumed in the U.S. originate in Mexico.  The Cartel leaders have strategically formed relationships with street gangs to flood the streets with illicit drugs. The smuggling routes utilized by the Cartels do not stop once the drugs make it across the U.S./Mexican Border.  That is simply the first step. It is important for local law enforcement officers to understand the precise smuggling routes of drugs entering their cities; however, it is paramount that officers learn to identify the methods used by the cartels to distribute drugs in their communities.
 
To aggressively target drug trafficking organizations, local law enforcement officers need to gain a better understanding of the true structure and operational components of the Cartels and how the Mexican Drug War impacts local cities in the U.S. daily. Mexican Cartel members rely heavily on spiritual protections and patron saints. It is imperative that law enforcement officials recognize the influences of the various saints as well as the influences of narcocorridos and narco-rap music.