The business of illegal drugs produced in the Andean region is linked to a global phenomenon. If we follow the chain of steps leading to the production, transportation and distribution of cocaine, for example, we see that it is an international market. The leaf of the plant is mainly grown in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. It is also refined in those three countries and distributed to markets on all continents through various nations. The most important of them are the producing countries themselves, but above all the collection centers: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Paraguay, among others. The most important demand now comes from Europe, Latin America and the USA.

As with any other agricultural commodity, the value of cocaine increases with each step up the distribution ladder, and just as a corn farmer gets a pittance for his crop compared to supermarket prices, the farmers who plant and harvest the coca leaf earn a pittance compared to the costs of one industrialized gram bought in Paris, Miami or Santiago. Illegal production and distribution exponentially increases the number of intermediaries and costs due to the secretive nature of the market. In fact, the values ​​of every step of the industry are very high precisely because of the ban.

The market for illegal drugs is dynamic. At different times, different psychotropics were at the peak of profitability. It depends on the transformations of social life and culture. Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl are substances whose production and consumption determine the shape of the market. But cocaine and heroin are still in significant demand.

Competition in business is violent, deadly force is used against the state and against rival organizations…

The production, distribution and consumption of prohibited substances rests on highly fragmented but internationally connected illegal networks. Andean drugs, which 30 years ago depended on large organizations, are now, like most goods, sold through distributors. Large manufacturing cartels no longer exist, they have broken up into hundreds or thousands of manufacturing micro-stores. Those connecting them to markets outside the Andean region are mainly Mexican and European organizations. They determine prices and transport routes.

Business competition is violent, lethal force is often used against the state and rival organizations, and in this dynamic, civilian victims are numerous. Illegal practices challenge institutions, contaminate public officials, cross power centers, tempt politicians, and all of this builds scenarios that sometimes destabilize society as a whole. This happened in the past in Central America, Colombia, Peru, and now in Ecuador. A weak, diminished, reduced state, left at the mercy of private interests, a paralyzed and inactive society, are not the solution to the problem. Superficial talks either. (OR)