A Different Perspective On Mexico's Drug Cartels, Politicians, Banks

From the editor:  While this blog primarily focuses on Brownsville, developments south of the border affect us economically, challenge our security and contribute to the migration of people into our area.  The anonymous comment below, posted to an article in "Borderland Beat," provides a different look at the entities that may actually control the huge criminal elements in Mexico:  




"Everybody thinks the cartels are at the top of the drug business, but that is wrong. The guys on top are the politicians, the military commanders and the business guys. The very top guys are the banks which launder (30% cut) and hold all the money and once the cartels heads are killed or busted get to keep what is left. 

The cartels are simply the stupid dogs doing the dirty work moving the drugs, killing and getting killed. This is very similar to a real war where the soldiers get fucked by the politicians and bankers.

Of course there are different parties and factions among the politicians, military commanders and banks getting paid and supporting the various cartels. This is the reason that there is not one big cartel feeding everybody, but several.

The cartels are nothing but pawns in this game giving away the biggest portion of the illicit proceeds in the shape of bribes to the top dogs who ARE the mexican society's institutional power (government, military and business).

Think about it: why do none of the investigations and trials follow the real money? Why is never an attempt made to try to trace the billions that the cartels hold? Answer: because they hold almost nothing! The money is gone into the pockets of the game makers high up in the corridors of power.

Back in the day Pablo Escobar paid USD70million in bribes per month. That was 20 years ago. Nowadays the figure is probably closer to USD500million in bribes per month for the entire industry. You can easily guess why the money trail is never followed.

The focus on the cartels as the bad guys (sure by their hands blood is shed, but they are not the makers of the game) is nothing but a smokescreen to make sure that attention is not paid to the real culprits! Note: in this respect there is no difference between the US and Mexico.

As a closing comment: one may be misled to yell 'hey the investigation into the Trevinos horse breeding operation was an example of an attempt to follow the money'. The truth: nothing of the sort! Their horse business dealt with 10's of millions and not the Billions actually involved. The real issue here was that the white Texas socialite establishment was upset to have to mingle and shake hands with a bunch of brown thugs!"

MMB: Another article, first published in the newspaper "Milenio," but shared in the insightful "Borderland Beat," details typical monthly bribes in the State of Michoacán paid by one cartel, Caballeros Templarios:

Payouts in major cities of Michoacán per month;

A commander of the Police Federal  collects up to 350,000 pesos per month ($ 26,923), 

A senior official in the attorney general's office, 250,000 pesos ($ 19,230)

State police, up to 240,000 pesos per month ($ 18,460).

A deputy of the municipal police the Templarios are paid 30,000 pesos ($ 2,307)

A municipal Public Safety Director, 25,000 pesos ($ 1,923)

An  ministerial officer 20,000 pesos ($ 1,540)

The press is also listed as a beneficiary of  payments, at 40,000 pesos a month  ($ 3,075)

25,000 for reporter at a news station ($ 1,923)

The same sum for an executive of a national television network ($1,923).

Among those  bribed is a general, who receives  2 million pesos a month (about $ 154,000)

The information published today by the Millennium Group comes from an intelligence report, that its journalists had access to for several hours.