Sinaloa Drug Cartel: Drug cartels are described as large and highly sophisticated organizations that consist of several drug trafficking organizations and cells with certain assignments like security/enforcement, drug transportation, and money laundering. The command and control structures of many drug cartels are located outside the United States though they manufacture, distribute, and transport illicit drugs domestically. This is done through assistance of the drug trafficking organizations that are part of or have an alliance with the cartel. The drug trafficking organizations usually range from loosely managed deals among drug traffickers to the formally organized commercial enterprises. An example of a drug trafficking organization that is involved in trafficking narcotics is the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel.

Mexico's Drug War:

Currently, Mexico increasingly reflects Colombia 25 years ago because of the rapid spread and strengthening on drug cartels throughout the country

. Mexicans have become increasingly concerned and sharply divided on the most appropriate way of responding to the challenge of drug cartels to the country's civil society. The increased concerns of these people have been fueled by the continual weakening of Mexico's governmental authority and legitimacy in the war against drugs.

As Mexico is quickly approaching the stark choice that Colombia experienced in 2002, many Mexicans prefer conciliation instead of confronting the drug cartels. This preference is based on the belief that appeasement with drug cartels through acceptance of continued judicial and police corruption would help in bringing back the tranquility of earlier times. The country's president has blamed the United States for many of the drug problems in Mexico stating that drug cartels are continually involved in the illegal practices because of the huge American demand for illegal drugs like cocaine. Despite of accusing the United States for the drug demand and theoretical exportation of guns to Mexico, the Mexican government is not doing enough. As a result, Mexico is falling into similar predicament like Colombia as it continues to accept the existence of the cartels and attempting to lessen violence instead of fighting it.

Mexican Sinaloa Cartel:

Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel is one of the leading drug trafficking...

The organization's leader was recently described as the most powerful drug trafficker across the globe by the U.S. Treasury Department. Mexican Sinaloa Cartel is responsible for approximately 50% of the illegal narcotics that are imported into America from Mexico every year. The strength and threat of the cartel's leader has made him to become the most wanted criminal worldwide in this post-Bin Laden era
In addition to being a drug trafficking organization, Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel is an organized crime syndicate based in Culiacan, Sinaloa. Most of the organization's operations are carried out in several Mexican states such as Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, and Durango. The three major regions in which the cartel operates are the main producers of Mexican marijuana and opium. While the United States Intelligence Community considers the cartel as the most powerful drug trafficking organization worldwide, it's also regarded as the most powerful organized crime group in Mexico. Apart from operating in five major states in Mexico, Sinaloa Cartel has a presence in 17 states in Mexico.

For much of its operations, the cartel smuggles and distributes Mexican marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine and Colombian cocaine into the United States. Shipments of these drugs are transported to other parts of the world, especially South America through other drug trafficking organizations allied to the Sinaloa Cartel. The organization operates as a formal commercial and well-organized group with several drug trafficking allies and partners around the globe such as Herrera Organization. As compared to other Mexican drug cartels, Sinaloa is vertically integrated and diversified to produce and export heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

One of the major reasons contributing to the strength and increased sophistication of the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel is the billions of dollars it generates from the illegal practices since it accounts for nearly half of illegal drugs imported into the United States annually. For instance, the cartel can purchase a kilo of cocaine in the highlands of Colombia or Peru for approximately $2,000 and then watch it generate huge profits as it makes its way in the market. In Mexico, the kilo of Colombian cocaine could generate…