Activity 9!

         The methods used to import the narcotics were very specific and secretive. The cocaine had to be tightly packaged in to cube-like shapes and then imported to the states by plane or by a boat. If imported through a plane, the plane would be privately owned and would land at a small airport with little to no security. People with personal planes would store their plane in a garage, which wouldn’t allow one to think a plane would be in it. The documentary mentioned how a stewardess on the plane was able to secretly import the narcotics across borders. As for the boat, the drugs would be hidden from sight within the boat. Someone from the other side would be using binoculars to make sure no police boats were nearby. Both sides would use a radio system to communicate to let the other know when the drugs were ready to be sent out. Colombia specifically controls 80% of the drug cartel, which comes to the United States.

         As far as the distribution of the narcotics within the US, once given to a supplier, that person would distribute it to all kinds of people. The guy in the documentary discussed how he sold cocaine to celebrities and athletes and even people in the streets. In order to keep the drugs in a safe place, the supplier would pay people to keep it in their homes and garages. They would even sell their drugs to people who lived in their neighborhood.

         The city of Miami became a huge center for the drug trade. High-end clubs and bars were created to cater to the drug traffic. People had the money from drugs and used it to be entertained. People spent money like no other in order to get whatever they wanted. Everybody had a price and was willing to do anything or be bribed by the money. People became so powerful because of the money they had, that they were able to sway the government. Miami became the trouble center for drugs and refugees and it became more dangerous. It became an area for mostly criminals and it had lost its sense of “paradise.” In class we discussed the effect of schedule 2 drugs on individuals and cocaine being one of them, can form addiction, which can result in crime in the long run. This might explain why Miami transformed to a dangerous place with criminals following years of drug trade.