Violence grew during the late 1970's through the 1980's in Colombia, creating high crime rates due to rapid social changes, extensive poverty, and the high unemployment rate. Historically, another cause of violence in Colombia is due to the bitter civil wars during the 19th and early 20th century and the inherited hatred that developed between the liberal and conservative party. Colombians have created a cultural partisan violence that is deeply ingrained. The causes of violence were the off center pattern of income distribution and increasingly violent guerrilla warfare from groups like the FARC (The Revolutionary Armed Forces and Colombia), the ELN (The National Liberation Army), and M-19. Cocaine farmers were able to expand in areas with limited governmental authority, where they are controlled under guerrilla and paramilitary groups.
There is also a change in the logistics of drug smuggling, which is why the war on drugs is still persistent today. Cartel leaders are able to adapt to changes and regulations
There is also a change in the logistics of drug smuggling, which is why the war on drugs is still persistent today. Cartel leaders are able to adapt to changes and regulations
Barry Seal was an American airline pilot that who became a major drug smuggler for the Medellin cartel, when he was caught and convicted of smuggling charges, he became an informant for the Drug enforcement administration and testified in major drug trials. He was able to smuggle drugs within the aircrafts he was flying. The rising violence in Colombia, and those within the drugs trafficking business, is mostly politically motivated. Colombia has always been in the presence of violence, but drug mafias have increased during the late 1970’s creating a change in violence. Colombia saw the transition to paid assassins, also referred to as sicarios. Drug lords would fight with other drug lords, but did not just stop there. They would also hire to have governmental officials and authorities killed if they were trying to get them extradited. In the case of Barry Seal, he was hunted down and killed because of his involvement with the DEA in trying to uncover drug smugglers. Before that, he worked as a drug smuggler for the medellín cartel. After facing conviction is when he turned to working for the DEA. Fidel Castro, leader of the Medellín cartel, is the one who had Seal killed.