This is Baghdad - A review of "The Last Narco" by Malcolm Beith

"The Last Narco" is much more than the story of one of Mexico's most notorious and powerful cartel leaders, El Chapo. Mr. Beith covers the comprehensive history of Mexico's illegal drug industry, from its humble beginnings when Mexicans were nothing more than couriers, transporting Columbian cartels' cocaine through Mexico to the U.S. The successful Columbian government's efforts with substantial U.S. aid and intervention in the 1990s led to the marginalization of the powerful Columbian Cali and Medellin cartels, which as an unintended consequence led to the formation and empowerment of their Mexican counterparts. Then in 2006, the newly elected president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon declared war on the dealers or "Narcos", unleashing the military to reduce violent crime instigated by the world's most dangerous criminal elite. The multi-year narco war's atrocities has put Al Qaeda's abhorrent acts to shame. For years there have been daily tortures, beheadings and mutilated bodies turning up everywhere, with over 27,000 deaths between 2006 and 2010 mostly from inter-cartel fighting. There is a pervasive and persistent narco culture in Mexico that is seemingly impossible to shed, lining up the pockets of the drug cartels to the tune of up to $48 billion annually according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

"The Last Narco" demonstrates unequivocally the futile effort of the war on drugs, the endless resources consumed and lives lost. Neutralize one cartel and an ugly turf war ensues. The RAND Corporation estimates a $60 billion annual consumption of narcotics in the U.S.; $36 billion on cocaine, $11 billion on heroin, $10 billion on marijuana, $5.8 billion on methamphetamines, and $2.6 billion on the rest. Mexico's annual illicit drug export to the U.S. comprises up to $40 billion of our cocaine, heroin, marijuana and meth. America's insatiable appetite to consume ensures a steady stream of supply and the criminal infrastructure that accompanies it. As long as there is strong demand, this war will never be won.

Mr. Beith has risked life and limb to write an eye opening and comprehensive story of the rise and thrive of Mexican cartels that have been a part of the fabric of Mexican society for decades. This is excellent journalistic work that delves deep beneath the global headlines. My only critique of the book is the lack of chronological order of events that can create some confusion in piecing together a cogent historical account of the Mexican narcotics industry.