Gangland by Jerry Langton

Gangland: The Rise of the Mexican Drug Cartels from El Paso to Vancouver, Jerry Langton. New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2012. 253 pps.



Gangland is the second book that convinced me not to migrate to Mexico. Jerry Langton goes into depth about the various factions in Mexico which are trafficking drugs up to the United States. He points out that there is a definite presence of these cartels in some cities in the U.S.A. already. The violence that is committed by the members of the cartels is not just a problem south of the Rio Grande. It is here in our cities and I suspect will increase. Where there are illegal immigrants, the presence of these cartels is higher than in communities where Mexicans who crossed legally are settled.

Jerry Langton accurately points out that even if the United States legalizes the use of marijuana, drug trafficking may not stop. Some will still obtain pot from the streets rather than from a legal "store." Taxes. Strength. Yes, those are two reasons why people will avoid acquiring it from sources that have a government stamp of approval. People up here don't just want pot. There is a demand for Mexican heroin, M.D.M.A., cocaine and meth which will not go away.

One thing unique to Gangland is the description of what is happening in drug rehabs throughout Mexico. Folks from cartels have broken in and either murdered everyone there or murdered the patients that they recognize there. Rehabs have also become a favored recruitment ground for the cartels.

sapphoq reviews says: Gangland is a scary book. It is worth reading for anyone who wishes to understand more about the violence associated with the Mexican cartels and their increasing presence in North American cities. Highly recommended.