ABSTRACT

According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Mexico is the corridor and port of entry for cocaine destined for the United States. Poppy and marijuana were the main drug-producing plants harvested in Mexico. Sinaloa is the cradle of drug trafficking in Mexico. The Nixon administration coined the term 'war on drugs'. Political events in Mexico have also contributed to drug-related violence. Afro-descendants and their contributions to Mexican history were disdained because they did not fit the official discourse of mestizaje. Afro-Mexicans distanced themselves from being perceived as Blacks. This contextualization of Afro-Mexican history illuminates the challenges of determining the number of Afro-descendants currently living in Mexico. Even if some Afro-Mexicans were involved in drug trafficking crimes, their participation would scarcely be noticed. Corruption in Mexico has allowed Drug Trafficking Organizations to challenge governmental authority. The Mexican government should go even further and legalize the entire drug business through regulations, drug reduction programs, and treatment centers.