Final answer:
A drug lord is a person who leads a large-scale illegal drug trade operation, with drug lords in Mexico having a major impact on local economies and cultures. They are involved in corruption, violence, and even community support, leading to mixed reactions from the population. The severity of cartel activities prompted the Mexican government to declare war on the cartels in 2006.
Step-by-step explanation:
A drug lord is a person who controls a large scale illegal drug trafficking operation, often with a significant influence over a particular region or country. In the case of Mexico, drug lords and their organizations – known as drug cartels – have become deeply integrated within the societal fabric due to the massive profits obtained from the drug trade. These cartels are heavily involved in criminal activities such as smuggling drugs into the United States, violently maintaining territorial control, and corrupting officials and institutions to ensure their operations run smoothly.
The economic power of these cartels has reached a point where they often provide services and funding to poor communities, which can result in a mix of resentment and support among the local population. This duality reflects the complexity of the impact that drug cartels have on the areas under their influence. The escalation and omnipresence of drug-related violence have been so significant that the Mexican government declared a war on these cartels in 2006, resulting in a high number of drug and cartel-related homicides.
Drug lords, like the infamous Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who was also known for his involvement in money laundering and narco-terrorism, contribute to a complex problem that extends beyond Mexico's borders, affecting international politics, law enforcement, and social structures.