It is evident that Mexican drug cartels have firmly rooted in the modern world and are not going to disappear in the nearest future, although the authorities spend a lot of effort and money to destroy them. Consequently, since no strong empire can be built without smart decisions, it is possible to say that high intelligence is one of the main characteristics of the most influential drug lords and the entire drug business itself. This may be seen in their tricky and smart ideas that allow them to successfully move drugs through border stations or avoid punishment from the authorities.
Indeed, the ways to move drugs created by Mexican drug cartels are really impressive in their cunning. In their research, Kurrle (2013) explores this topic and provides a thorough description of the role of human intellect in drug trafficking. For example, the author mentions that specific coordinated efforts, including women’s “flirting and low cut shirts,” are used to distract agents from drugs hidden in the vehicle (Kurrle, 2013, p. 55). Another example is that smugglers modify transportation trucks and hide the prohibited substances in the engine cavity (Kurrle, 2013). Overall, it is possible to say that precisely high intellect and creativity, together with the desire and need to think of tricky ways to move drugs, allow Mexican smugglers to succeed in their business.
This intelligence and its increased role in drug trafficking can also be seen in Queen of the South. For example, in the second episode of the first season, the main character, Teresa Mendoza, meets a woman who keeps the cache of drugs (twenty-three balloons) in her body. When the woman dies because these balloons dissolve inside her, Teresa becomes the one who has to deliver those drugs, so she swallows them and heads to the airport. Such a dangerous and tricky way to move drugs is used in real life. This fact indicates not only drug barons’ and smugglers’ cruelty but also their high intellect.
Reference
Kurrle, R. W. (2013). The effective business practices of Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) [Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School]. The Defense Technical Information Center.