The Rise of Human Trafficking in Colombia

The problem of internal human trafficking in Colombia is worsening, according to the United Nations and the Colombian government, due to a lack of attention to the domestic aspect of the trade and its relation to the drug trade.  Both criminal gangs and guerrilla groups like the Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia (FARC) forcibly recruit children, with 483 cases registered by authorities in 2011. In the first seven weeks of this year, 46 cases were reported.

The Crackdown of Colombian Cartels

Ever since President Álvaro Uribe took office in 2002, the drug cartels in Colombia have been on their heels. After 30 years of terror and control, the cartels are a shell of their former organization, and have continued to fragment into smaller organizations. The DEA and the Colombian National police have continued to keep the pressure on the cartels, and while they are still in operation, they do not have near the strength they did even 10 years ago. 

"Narco-Terrorism": The Real Meaning

In keeping with the Colombia theme, I will discuss the threat of violence from narco-trafficking (or narco-terrorist) groups. Originally, these groups were in conflict with just the host nation of Colombia in what seemed like an endless battle. However, since the war on drugs in the 1980s, along with the large and ever-reaching repercussions that came out of the post 9/11 era, these groups have received more and more international attention.