Episode 012-The Link Between Drug Cartels and Cyber Crime

The drug cartels in Mexico (called “drug trafficking organizations” or DTO’s) have been gaining significant strength over the past decade. Recently, there has been a rift between law enforcement and military organizations in Mexico and the United States, which has caused a breakdown in cooperation between the two countries. DEA’s Chief of Operations, Matthew Donahue told NPR this year, “We’re willing to share [intelligence] with our counterparts in Mexico, but they themselves are too afraid to even engage with us because of repercussions from their own government if they get caught working with DEA.”
With the breakdown of joint interdiction efforts, these DTO’s have ramped up their manufacturing of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Seizures by police and border agents are at an all-time high. In the same interview with NPR, Donahue described the current situation as a national security crisis. “It’s a national health threat, it’s a national safety threat,” he said, adding that drug gangs and criminal organizations now operate inside Mexico with impunity. “They do not fear any kind of law enforcement … or military inside of Mexico right now.”
Because these DTO’s work with impunity, they have begun working with entities that would like to destroy the United States. China is funneling precursors to manufacture fentanyl to Mexican DTO’s while simultaneously working with cybercriminals to further their agenda and to launder money.
 
 



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