Mutant drug trafficking: A new analysis perspective of the phenomenon in Colombia

Abstract

The fight against drug trafficking has been a controversial issue regarding the assessment of the strategy. A spectrum of new scenarios has been set in which the phenomenon reaches new and deeper structural dimensions that have led the Colombian State to rethink the strategic designs to mitigate its impact. After the end of the traditional 'cartels' in the country, a space for the emergence of complex actors, trafficking methodologies and sophistication in the production and distribution arises. Indeed, the professionalization of criminal groups and the strategic synergy between them, overwhelmingly uncovered a complexity in respect of the security of the State. This gave place to high technification in the use of new and sophisticated weapons, jeopardizing the intermestic security. However, the efforts of the conventional security agents to eliminate the drug trafficking threat, are overshadowed by the law of diminishing marginal returns in the military plans. The above, to reach a general approach that through armed means a mutant drug trafficking phenomenon can only be restrained, but not reduced to the very minimum.