Sinaloa Cartel: A Comparative Analysis

In January of 2012 the Mexican Special Forces conducted a raid against the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most deadly organizations, on a ranch in northern Mexico. Cartels are not necessarily terrorist groups but a lot of their focuses are similar to those of terrorist organizations. This cartel specifically turned some areas of Mexico into a virtual shell state. A state in which the countries own government cannot effectively rule. Another similarity is that cartels also use the same underground networks terrorist groups do and often use terrorist tactics as they operate. Considering the similarities and the threat they present to both Mexico and the United States; the term “narcoterrorism” came abroad. Terrorist organizations of all kinds often sell illegal drugs as well for the tremendous profits. The financials for these groups are very secretive but also very expensive; following the money could easily be the best tactic for locating these groups. After 1945 in Africa and Asia is when the

“Piracy has doubled in the last decade” according to White (2006) (pg.66). With the rise of these piracy acts, warships from several nations were sent out to sea but with unspecific instructions about what they should be doing. Jihadist groups recognizing the immense possible profits they could make through capturing industrial ships and releasing them for ransom; which is exactly what they began to do. In 2010 several nations signed an agreement to work together against maritime terrorism and piracy as it is ridiculous. Warships protected areas they were familiar with and shipping companies began hiring armed guards. One problem though is in The Horn of Africa, Somalia to be exact, where there is no order. Some have either lost their homes and were forced into piracy and some just feel they are the protectors of their communities and willingly joined piracy organizations to better