Two Approaches to Getting Rid of Mexican Cartels: Drug Legalization and the Bukele Model

By RICARDO BENJAMIN SALINAS PLIEGO and WALTER E BLOCK

It is no exaggeration to say that gangs in Mexico are now more powerful than the Mexican police force. It is almost possible, but not quite, to say that these groups of criminals can fight even the Mexican Army on an almost equal basis. Needless to say, this situation calls for rectification, if the prosperity, flourishing and even the lives of innocent Mexicans are once again to be safeguarded.

From an anarcho-capitalist point of view, the purest form of libertarianism, the attitude toward this situation would be one of “A pox on both your houses.” You are both criminal gangs, albeit one of you has far more legitimacy than the other, mainly based on far better public relations than anything substantive. Both mulct funds from innocent people on a coercive basis. For one, these payments are “taxes”; for the other, “payments” or “payoffs.” But there is no real difference between the two.

However, such a philosophy is articulated by an estimated only 1% of all those calling themselves libertarians. What is the position of the other 99%, who aver that a very limited government is indeed justified? It would be one limited to providing armies to protect against foreign invasion, police to quell domestic robbers, rapists, murderers and their ilk, and courts to distinguish guilt from innocence and to uphold free enterprise and personal and private property rights. This is limited government libertarianism.

So, from this perspective, how best to deal with these Mexican criminal gangs which have been preying on innocent folk? It is certainly not to “hug” them. They are criminals, and must be dealt with accordingly; that is, harshly. Presumably, the Mexican government is now doing the best it can to achieve this goal. Is there any other option that does not call for more treasure, more soldiers, more sophisticated weaponry? Yes there is.

Legalize drugs. All of them. Without exception. The US state of Oregon has already taken a teeny, tiny, baby step in this direction. The recommendation to the Mexican government is to carry this civilized plan further, far further. Legalization should encompass all (addictive) drugs without exception.

How will this help to undermine the power and pelf of Mexican gangs? It is simple: a significant amount of their financial resources emanates from this one quarter. Running a bunch of hooligans takes finances, serious finances. The less wherewithal these mobsters have, the weaker they will be, and the more likely they will succumb to the forces of law and order in Mexico.

This, admittedly, does not sound coherent or indeed even rational. Who wants more addictive drugs circulating in the country? No decent person can wish for any such thing. However, we must not take our eye off the ball. These drugs are now widely available in any case. It is difficult to see how the admitted deleterious effects of these substances can be significantly worsened under legalization.

Fortunately, we have a widely known historical episode to rely upon to see our way clear on this matter. Prohibition of alcohol took place in the US in 1920, and then the legalization of this product began in 1933. Pretty much, roughly, anything negative, medicinally, that can be said about addictive drugs can also be said about booze. Both can be very harmful. During this Prohibition period, US gangs prospered. They were the only ones who could deliver this product to a thirsty public. Afterward, much of the wind was taken out of their sails. These gangs survived, but in a much weakened condition, without this source of revenue at their disposal.

It is difficult to avoid the prediction that much the same thing would occur in the Mexican context under full legalization. Will the Mexican mobsters then become boy scouts or choirboys? Of course not. They will lose the competitive battle with pharmaceutical companies to provide these items to the public, in much the same way as did US gangs lose out to private beer, wine and liquor firms in that country. There is, after all, such a thing as specialization and division of labor, and gangs have in spades the ability to create mayhem, but not consumer goods and services.

Deprived of revenue from drugs, they will presumably increase their involvement with kidnapping, murder, prostitution (which should also be legalized, as it is in Nevada and many European countries, but that is a story for another day), etc. However, it cannot be denied that they will have fewer funds under this legal regime than at present, and will thus be more vulnerable to traditional Mexican police and armies.

This solution is a good one, theoretically, except for the fact that it is totally unrealistic.  There are many, and serious, difficulties with it. If Mexico were to legalize all drugs as proposed, it would not only become an international “pariah”, but also it would present the best excuse possible for the disgusting politicians who pander to the worst jingoistic and nationalist sentiments present in the US population.

Calls for regime change, invasion and bombing of the “Mexican Narco State” would find quick support. Also, a full closure of the Rio Grande border would ensue. Moreover, the politicians in Mexico supporting legalization would soon disappear!, and it would not be due to them all suddenly going on vacation. The United Nations would go apoplectic in its condemnation of this renegade nation.

So, Mexico has no viable choice but to look the other way when dealing with Narco traffic … just like it’s done in the USA, Europe and most of the world.

However, criminal violence is wholly another matter and must be dealt with an iron hand at the local level. Unhappily, the Bukele model is far better in this regard. It is named after Nayib Bukele the President of El Salvador who radically reduced the murder rate, and the power of gangs in his country using techniques that would be severely frowned upon by the American Civil Liberties Union, to say the least. But desperate situations call for radical remedies.

Before this “throw-em-all-in-jail-and-throw-away-the-key policy was implemented in 2019, the murder rate was over 38, per 100,000 people and a few years before that it was as high as 106. After implementation, this was reduced to 8, and may now be as low as 2.4, annually. You can’t make an omelet without cracking eggs.

Good luck to the Mexican government in ridding itself and its citizenry of this scourge.


Originally published here.