"Narcas". The rule of women in Mexican drug trafficking

Abstract

In the last few years the number of women arrested for crimes related to drug trafficking increased constantly, demonstrating that they are an active part of the criminal organisations in Mexico. Similarly, the number of young girls that confessed that they voluntarily joined the groups of killers have grown exponentially. Therefore, the present paper aims to illustrate this increasing position women have in Mexican drug cartels. The investigation into their roles follows the drug production process, meaning examining the women’s jobs in the cultivation, transportation, smuggling and selling of the drugs. In addition, the paper examines the part women take in the storing and safe keeping of the narcotic substances, and the women who takes part in armed groups. A special focus will be devoted to the superior women in the Sinaloa Cartel. Furthermore, to fully understand the reasons behind the upsurge in women’s participation, it is essential to study how the Mexican narcotic culture influences the Mexican society. Keywords: women, drug trafficking, Mexico, narcos, drug cartels