The publishing platform VoxDev has featured recent research co-authored by our research officer Giacomo Battiston, exploring how Mexico’s war on drugs has had unintended consequences, including the rise of large-scale oil theft by criminal cartels. The study, “Fuelling Organised Crime: The Mexican War on Drugs and Oil Theft,” shows that government crackdowns on the drug trade led to a 30% increase in cartel presence in municipalities with oil pipelines, shifting criminal activities into new areas.
The article notes:
“Municipalities with oil pipelines in Mexico saw a 30% increase in cartel presence after the war on drugs began, resulting in severe economic and social impacts.”
The study highlights how cartels, particularly emerging groups like the Zetas, adapted by moving into oil theft, taking advantage of weaknesses in Mexico’s oil infrastructure. These findings provide important insights into how criminal organisations evolve under pressure and emphasize the need for comprehensive policy approaches to combat organised crime.
You can read the full article on VoxDev here.
This research sheds light on the broader dynamics of organised crime, offering valuable lessons for policymakers working to address similar issues worldwide.
