The deadly genius of drug cartels | Rodrigo Canales

譯者: Ho Man Li 審譯者: Regina Chu

In December of 2010,

2010 年十二月，

the city of Apatzingán

在墨西哥沿岸米卻肯州

in the coastal state of Michoacán, in Mexico,

城市阿帕欽甘

awoke to gunfire.

被槍火吵醒。

For two straight days,

連續兩日

the city became an open battlefield

這城市變成了公開戰場，

between the federal forces

由聯邦力量

and a well-organized group,

和有組織的群體開戰，

presumably from the local criminal organization,

極有可能是當地犯罪組織，

La Familia Michoacana, or the Michoacán family.

La Familia Michoacana，或者是米卻肯家族。

The citizens didn't only experience incessant gunfire

市民們不僅經歷了持續不斷的槍聲，

but also explosions

還有爆炸，

and burning trucks used as barricades across the city,

整個城市裡燒著的貨車被用作路障

so truly like a battlefield.

所以真的是一個戰場。

After these two days,

這兩天後，

and during a particularly intense encounter,

在一次特別激烈的行動，

it was presumed that the leader of La Familia Michoacana,

米卻肯家族的領袖

Nazario Moreno, was killed.

莫瑞諾相信被殺。

In response to this terrifying violence,

這可怕的暴力導致

the mayor of Apatzingán

阿帕欽甘的市長

decided to call the citizens to a march for peace.

召喚市民上街為和平遊行。

The idea was to ask for a softer approach

理念是要尋找更柔和的途徑

to criminal activity in the state.

去打擊罪犯行動。

And so, the day of the scheduled procession,

所以，在約定的日子，

thousands of people showed up.

幾千人上街。

As the mayor was preparing to deliver

當市長準備

the speech starting the march,

演說去開始遊行，

his team noticed

他的團隊發覺

that, while half of the participants

一半的參與者

were appropriately dressed in white,

合宜的穿了白色

and bearing banners asking for peace,

和帶了橫額尋求和平，

the other half was actually marching

另一半卻其實

in support of the criminal organization

為犯罪組織

and its now-presumed-defunct leader.

和已去世的領袖遊行。

Shocked, the mayor decided to step aside

市長感到震驚，與其參與或帶領一個

rather than participate or lead a procession

看起來會支持組織罪案的遊行，

that was ostensibly in support of organized crime.

不如決定避開，

And so his team stepped aside.

所以他的團隊決定不插手。

The two marches joined together,

兩個遊行聯合了，

and they continued their path

並繼續向

towards the state capital.

州首都走去。

This story of horrific violence

這個故事，從暴力開始，

followed by a fumbled approach

接下來由聯邦和當地權威

by federal and local authorities as they tried

試著摸索着，

to engage civil society,

去和社會團體打交道，

who has been very well engaged by a criminal organization,

即一個和罪案組織有密切關係的城市，

is a perfect metaphor for what's happening in Mexico today,

是對今天的墨西哥的完美的比喻，

where we see that our current understanding

我們現時對

of drug violence and what leads to it

毒品暴力的理解，和導致的原因

is probably at the very least incomplete.

或許非常不完整。

If you decided to spend 30 minutes trying

如果你決定花 30 分鐘去

to figure out what's going on with drug violence in Mexico

明白墨西哥的毒品暴力，

by, say, just researching online,

就說從網上看吧，

the first thing you would find out is that

你會找到的第一件事是，

while the laws state that all Mexican citizens are equal,

儘管法律說明所有墨西哥人是平等的，

there are some that are more

有些會比其他更高等，

and there are some that are much less equal than others,

一些會比其他更低等，

because you will quickly find out

因為你會很快發現

that in the past six years

在過去的六年，

anywhere between 60 and 100,000 people

有 60 到 10 萬這樣的人數

have lost their lives in drug-related violence.

在與毒品有關的暴力中喪失生命。

To put these numbers in perspective,

用不同角度看這些數字，

this is eight times larger than the number of casualties

這是比在伊拉克和阿富汗

in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.

戰爭中傷亡人數的八倍；

It's also shockingly close to the number of people

這數字也很接近

who have died in the Syrian civil war,

在敘利亞內戰死亡的人數，

which is an active civil war.

這還是個現行的內戰。

This is happening just south of the border.

這還只是發生在邊界南面的數字。

Now as you're reading, however,

當你閱讀這些資料，

you will be maybe surprised that you will quickly

你可能會對這些死亡數字麻木，

become numb to the numbers of deaths,

並對自己感到驚訝。

because you will see that these are sort of abstract numbers

因為，這些都是抽象的數字

of faceless, nameless dead people.

死的都是寂寂無名的人，

Implicitly or explicitly, there is a narrative

無論如何，

that all the people who are dying

這些死了的人

were somehow involved in the drug trade,

某程度上都和毒品交易有關，

and we infer this because they were either tortured

我們如此推斷因為他們不是被折磨，

or executed in a professional manner,

就是以專業方式被處決

or, most likely, both.

或者，兩樣都是。

And so clearly they were criminals

因為他們死的方式，

because of the way they died.

他們顯然是罪犯。

And so the narrative is that somehow these people

所以這些人某程度上

got what they were deserved.

得到應有的。

They were part of the bad guys.

他們是壞人。

And that creates some form of comfort

這令很多人

for a lot of people.

感到安慰。

However, while it's easier to think

雖然這樣想比較容易；

of us, the citizens, the police, the army,

視我們這些市民，警察，軍隊

as the good guys, and them, the narcos,

為好人，而那些毒販，

the carteles, as the bad guys,

那些毒梟，為壞人。

if you think about it,

可是認真想，

the latter are only providing a service to the former.

後者只是為前者服務。

Whether we like it or not,

無論我們喜歡與否，

the U.S. is the largest market

美國是世界上

for illegal substances in the world,

最大的毒品市場，

accounting for more than half of global demand.

佔全球需求的一半以上。

It shares thousands of miles of border with Mexico

因為數千英里的邊境和墨西哥接壤，

that is its only route of access from the South,

而且是從南來的唯一路徑；

and so, as the former dictator of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz,

因此，作為墨西哥的前獨裁者， 波菲裡奧 · 迪亞斯，

used to say, "Poor Mexico,

常說，"可憐的墨西哥，

so far from God and so close to the United States."

離神這麼遠，卻這麼接近美國。“

The U.N. estimates that there are 55 million users

聯合國估計美國有

of illegal drugs in the United States.

五千五百萬個非法藥物的用者。

Using very, very conservative assumptions,

使用非常，非常保守的假設，

this yields a yearly drug market on the retail side

這會導致一個龐大的毒品市場

of anywhere between 30 and 150 billion dollars.

甚至大至 300 到 1500 億美元。

If we assume that the narcos only have access

如果我們假設毒販只能

to the wholesale part, which we know is false,

打通批發部分，當然我們知道這並不真實，

that still leaves you with yearly revenues

但這仍然會給他們

of anywhere between 15 billion and 60 billion dollars.

150 億和 600 億美元之間的利潤。

To put these numbers in perspective,

另一角度看這些數字，

Microsoft has yearly revenues of 60 billion dollars.

微軟年收入為 600 億美金。

And it so happens that this is a product that,

而毒品卻，

because of its nature, a business model

因為其性質，解決需求

to address this market requires you

需要一個特別的生意模式，

to guarantee to your producers

要保證對生產商

that their product will be reliably placed

他們的產品將會被放置

in the markets where it is consumed.

在可靠的市場。

And the only way to do this, because it's illegal,

因為這是非法的，唯一的辦法

is to have absolute control of the geographic corridors

是要對地理有絕對掌握

that are used to transport drugs.

一曲運送毒品。

Hence the violence.

因此就有暴力。

If you look at a map of cartel influence and violence,

假如我們看看有關毒品業的地圖

you will see that it almost perfectly aligns

毒品行業的影響和暴力

with the most efficient routes of transportation

與最有效的運輸路線差不多完全一樣

from the south to the north.

從南向北。

The only thing that the cartels are doing

毒梟唯一在做的，

is that they're trying to protect their business.

是他們要保護他們的業務。

It's not only a multi-billion dollar market,

它不只是有關幾十億元的市場，

but it's also a complex one.

它同樣十分複雜。

For example, the coca plant is a fragile plant

例如，古柯植物非常脆弱

that can only grow in certain latitudes,

只能在某些緯度生長

and so it means that a business model

這代表，為解決這樣的市場

to address this market requires you to have

商業將包含

decentralized, international production,

分散的、 國際的生產、

that by the way needs to have good quality control,

順帶一提，必須有良好的品質控制，

because people need a good high

因為人們想感到吸毒後的高漲

that is not going to kill them

卻不會致命，

and that is going to be delivered to them when they need it.

而藥物要被準確運送到。

And so that means they need to secure

所以他們要確保

production and quality control in the south,

南方生產和品質控制，

and you need to ensure that you have

同時需要

efficient and effective distribution channels

高效率和有效的分銷管道

in the markets where these drugs are consumed.

去接觸這些市場。

I urge you, but only a little bit,

我提議你，但只試一點點，

because I don't want to get you in trouble,

因為我不想給你帶來麻煩，

to just ask around and see how difficult it would be

就是去打聽一下在美國何時何地

to get whatever drug you want, wherever you want it,

去問人在哪裡買你要的任何藥物

whenever you want it, anywhere in the U.S.,

有多難。

and some of you may be surprised to know

你們中某些可能會很驚訝去知道

that there are many dealers that offer a service

有許多提供服務的轉銷商，

where if you send them a text message,

假如你發短信給他們，

they guarantee delivery of the drug

他們能保證藥物

in 30 minutes or less.

在三十分鐘內被運到。

Think about this for a second.

花時間想想。

Think about the complexity

想想我剛才說的

of the distribution network that I just described.

分布網絡有多複雜。

It's very difficult to reconcile this

看起來這和無名的，

with the image of faceless, ignorant goons

互相射殺的毒販

that are just shooting each other,

很難扯上關係

very difficult to reconcile.

很難去想。

Now, as a business professor, and as any business professor would tell you,

現在，作為一名商務教授， 而所有商務教授都會如此說，

an effective organization requires

一個有效的組織要求

an integrated strategy that includes

一項綜合的戰略，其中包括

a good organizational structure, good incentives,

良好的組織結構、 激勵機制，

a solid identity and good brand management.

肯定的身分和良好的品牌管理。

This leads me to the second thing that you would learn

所以在對墨西哥的三十分鐘探索，

in your 30-minute exploration of drug violence in Mexico.

我們學到的第二件事，

Because you would quickly realize,

你很快會意識到，

and maybe be confused by the fact,

甚至被混淆；

that there are three organizations

有三個組織的名字

that are constantly named in the articles.

不停出現在文章上。

You will hear about Los Zetas,

洛斯哲塔斯，

the Knights Templar, which is the new brand

及新的品牌，聖殿騎士團

for the Familia Michoacana that I spoke about at the beginning,

由一開始時談及的米卻肯家族新創，

and the Sinaloa Federation.

和錫納羅亞販毒集團。

You will read that Los Zetas is this assortment

你將讀到洛斯哲塔斯會做各式各樣

of sociopaths that terrify the cities that they enter

反社會的事，恐嚇他們進入的城市

and they silence the press,

然而媒體不會報道，

and this is somewhat true, or mostly true.

這某程度上，或很大程度上是真的。

But this is the result of a very careful branding

但這是因為非常小心的管理

and business strategy.

和業務戰略。

You see, Los Zetas is not just

洛斯哲塔斯並不只是

this random assortment of individuals,

隨機組合的人們，

but was actually created by another criminal organization, the Gulf Cartel,

而是由另一犯罪組織，海灣販毒集團創建，

that used to control the eastern corridor of Mexico.

它曾經控制墨西哥的東岸走廊。

When that corridor became contested, they decided

當那條走廊被人入侵，他們決定

that they wanted to recruit

招聘

a professional enforcement arm.

一個專業執法部門。

So they recruited Los Zetas:

所以他們招募洛斯哲塔斯：

an entire unit of elite paratroopers

即墨西哥軍隊裡

from the Mexican Army.

整個單位的精銳傘兵。

They were incredibly effective as enforcers for the Gulf Cartel,

他們為海灣販毒集團非常有效地執法。

so much so that at some point, they decided

因此到了一定時候，他們決定

to just take over the operations,

接管行動。

which is why I ask you to never keep tigers as pets,

這正正反映，別養虎為患，

because they grow up.

因為他們長大了。

Because the Zetas organization was founded in treason,

因為洛斯哲塔斯是由叛變之下成立的，

they lost some of the linkages to the production and distribution

在最高利潤的市場，例如可卡因

in the most profitable markets like cocaine,

他們失去了一些對生產和分配的聯繫。

but what they did have,

但他們有的，

and this is again based on their military origin,

這又是基於其軍事的起源，

was a perfectly structured chain of command

是結構化的指揮鏈，

with a very clear hierarchy

非常清晰的層次結構，

and a very clear promotion path that allowed them

非常清晰的晉升途徑，

to supervise and operate across many, many markets

非常有效地監管

very effectively,

和操控很多市場，

which is the essence of what a chain of command seeks to do.

這就是指揮鏈最根本的作用。

And so because they didn't have access

他們不能進入

to the more profitable drug markets,

更賺錢的毒品市場，

this pushed them and gave them the opportunity

卻給了他們機會

to diversify into other forms of crime.

化成其他形式的犯罪。

That includes kidnapping, prostitution,

這包括綁架、 賣淫、

local drug dealing and human trafficking,

當地毒品交易和販賣人口，

including of migrants that go from the south to the U.S.

包括從南邊到美國的移民。

So what they currently run is truly

所以他們正在運行的

and quite literally a franchise business.

其實是專營業務。

They focus most of their recruiting on the army,

他們的招聘很多都是在軍隊，

and they very openly advertise for better salaries,

而他們會公開賣廣告：更好的薪水

better benefits, better promotion paths,

更多的福利，更多的晉升途徑，

not to mention much better food,

還有比軍隊能夠提供的

than what the army can deliver.

更佳的食物。

The way they operate is that

他們的運作的方式是，

when they arrive in a locality,

當他們到達一個地方，

they let people know that they are there,

他們會讓人們知道他們在那，

and they go to the most powerful local gang

然後去當地最強的黑幫，

and they say, "I offer you

說：「我讓你

to be the local representative of the Zeta brand."

成為洛斯哲塔斯的地區性代表。」

If they agree -- and you don't want to know

如果他們同意 — — 你不想知道

what happens if they don't --

如果他們不同意怎麼辦，

they train them and they supervise them

他們訓練他們，和他們監督他們

on how to run the most efficient criminal operation

如何在當地運行最有效率的犯罪行動，

for that town, in exchange for royalties.

以換取特許權使用費。

This kind of business model obviously depends

這種業務模式顯然完全取決於

entirely on having a very effective brand of fear,

對品牌的恐懼，

and so Los Zetas

洛斯哲塔斯如此

carefully stage acts of violence

仔細策劃的暴力行為，

that are spectacular in nature,

本質是如此的驚人，

especially when they arrive first in a city,

尤其是當他們剛一個城市時。

but again, that's just a brand strategy.

但同樣，這只是品牌戰略。

I'm not saying they're not violent,

我不是說他們不暴力，

but what I am saying is that even though you will read

但我的意思是，即使你讀到

that they are the most violent of all,

他們是最暴力的幫派，

when you count, when you do the body count,

但當點死亡人數時，

they're actually all the same.

其實跟其他都一樣。

In contrast to them, the Knights Templar

作為對比，聖殿騎士團

that arose in Michoacán

是在米卻肯州起源的，

emerged in reaction to the incursion

對洛斯哲塔斯入侵他們的州分

of the Zetas into the state of Michoacán.

產生了反應。

Michoacán is a geographically strategic state

米卻肯州戰略性重要的地方，

because it has one of the largest ports in Mexico,

因為它有墨西哥最大的港口之一，

and it has very direct routes to the center of Mexico,

和直接進入墨西哥中心的路線。

which then gives you direct access to the U.S.

然後就能直通美國。

The Knights Templar realized very quickly

聖殿騎士很快就意識到

that they couldn't face the Zetas on violence alone,

他們不能單純以暴力解決洛斯哲塔斯，

and so they developed a strategy

所以他們開發了新的戰略

as a social enterprise.

成為社會企業。

They brand themselves as representative of

他們包裝自己為

and protecting of the citizens of Michoacán

保護米卻肯州市民的代表

against organized crime.

打擊有組織犯罪。

Their brand of social enterprise means

作為社會企業代表

that they require a lot of civic engagement,

他們需要與民眾有很多的交流，

so they invest heavily in providing local services,

所以他們大量投資當地服務，

like dealing with home violence,

例如處理家庭暴力，

going after petty criminals, treating addicts,

處理瑣碎的罪案，治療癮君子，

and keeping drugs out of the local markets

和讓毒品遠離他們

where they are,

所在地的市場。

and, of course, protecting people

當然，保護人民

from other criminal organizations.

不被其他犯罪組織侵犯。

Now, they kill a lot of people too,

他們也殺了很多人，

but when they kill them,

但當他們殺了他們，

they provide very careful narratives and descriptions

他們提供了非常小心的敘述和說明

for why they did them,

對於為什麼殺他們，

through newspaper insertions, YouTube videos,

通過報章報道，YouTube 視頻，

and billboards that explain that the people who were killed

看版解釋為何那些人被殺，

were killed because they represented a threat

因為這些人反映了威脅，

not to us, as an organization, of course,

不是對於我們，作為一個組織，

but to you, as citizens.

但是對你們，公民。

And so we're actually here to protect you.

所以我們實際上是來保護你。

They, as social enterprises do,

他們作為社會企業，

have created a moral and ethical code

已創建一個道德和倫理的章法，

that they advertise around,

他們到處做廣告，

and they have very strict recruiting practices.

有非常嚴格的招聘方法。

And here you have the types of explanations

對於他們的一些行動，

that they provide for some of their actions.

他們會有幾種解釋。

They have actually retained access

他們實際上保留了進入

to the profitable drug trade,

高價毒品的交易的道路，

but the way they do it is, because they control all of Michoacán,

而他們的方法，因為他們控制著整個米卻肯州，

and they control the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas,

和拉薩羅卡德納勒港口，

they leverage that to, for example,

他們利用這一點，例如

trade copper from Michoacán that is legally created

利用在米卻肯合法製成

and legally extracted

和合法提取的銅去交易

with illegal ephedrine from China

來自中國，非法的麻黃素，

which is a critical precursor for methamphetamines

一個製作冰毒的重要材料。

that they produce, and then they have partnerships

他們生產，就與較大的組織

with larger organizations like the Sinaloa Federation

建立夥伴關係，像錫納羅亞販毒集團，

that place their products in the U.S.

會將產品放於美國。

Finally, the Sinaloa Federation.

最後，錫納羅亞販毒集團。

When you read about them, you will often read about them

尋找他們的資料時，都是

with an undertone of reverence and admiration,

被尊敬和欽佩地敘述。

because they are the most integrated

因為他們是最完整，

and the largest of all the Mexican organizations,

是墨西哥所有組織中最大的，

and, many people argue, the world.

很多人還認為，是世界上最大的組織。

They started as just sort of a transport organization

他們開始時只是運輸機構，

that specialized in smuggling between the U.S.

專門在美國和墨西哥

and the Mexican borders,

邊界走私，

but now they have grown

但現在他們已經長大

into a truly integrated multinational

成為一個架構完整的跨國集團

that has partnerships in production in the south

在南方有生產的夥伴，

and partnerships in global distribution

也有銷售夥伴

across the planet.

分布全球。

They have cultivated a brand of professionalism,

他們培養的品牌含有專業，

business acumen and innovation.

商業智慧與創新。

They have designed new drug products

他們設計過新的藥物

and new drug processes.

和新的生產過程。

They have designed narco-tunnels

他們設計了販毒隧道

that go across the border,

超越邊境，

and you can see that these are not

這些不是

"The Shawshank Redemption" types.

「肖申克的救贖」的類型。

They have invented narco-submarines and boats

他們發明了販毒潛水艇和小船

that are not detected by radar.

是雷達檢查不到的。

They have invented drones to transport drugs,

他們發明了無人駕駛飛機運輸毒品，

catapults, you name it.

彈射器，包羅萬有。

One of the leaders of the Sinaloa Federation

錫納羅亞販毒集團領導人之一

actually made it to the Forbes list.

實際上在福布斯榜上有名。

[#701 Joaquin Guzman Loera]

[#701 Joaquin Guzman Loera]

Like any multinational would, they have specialized

像任何跨國公司，他們

and focused only in the most profitable part of the business,

專注了在最有利可圖的部分，

which is high-margin drugs like cocaine,

就像高檔的毒品，例如可卡因

heroine, methamphetamines.

海洛英，甲基安非他命。

Like any traditional Latin American multinational would,

像任何傳統的拉丁美洲跨國公司，

the way they control their operations

他們是靠家庭關係

is through family ties.

控制行動的。

When they're entering a new market, they send

當他們要進入一個新的市場，他們發送

a family member to supervise it,

一名家庭成員監督，

or, if they're partnering with a new organization,

如果需要新的企業夥伴，

they create a family tie,

他們創建家庭結，

either through marriages or other types of ties.

要麼通過婚姻，或其他類型的關係。

Like any other multinational would,

像任何其他跨國公司一樣，

they protect their brand by outsourcing

他們會以外包生意上可疑的部分

the more questionable parts of the business model,

保護自己的品牌。

like for example, when they have to engage

譬如，當他們要

in violence against other criminal organizations,

以暴力打壓其他組織時，

they recruit gangs and other smaller players

他們聘請幫派和其他小玩家

to do the dirty work for them,

做骯髒的工作，

and they try to separate their operations

試圖完全分開他們的行動

and their violence and be very discrete about this.

和他們的暴力行為。

To further strengthen their brand,

為進一步加強他們的品牌，

they actually have professional P.R. firms

他們實際上有專業公關公司

that shape how the press talks about them.

向報社塑造他們的形象。

They have professional videographers on staff.

他們有專業攝像師，

They have incredibly productive ties

難以置信的生產力聯繫

with the security organizations

與保安機構

on both sides of the border.

在邊界兩邊。

And so, differences aside,

所以，不計差異，

what these three organizations share

這三個組織同樣，

is on the one hand, a very clear understanding

一方面，非常清楚

that institutions cannot be imposed from the top,

機構不是由上而下

but rather they are built from the bottom up

而是由下而上創建的。

one interaction at a time.

一次一次的互動。

They have created extremely coherent structures

他們建立了極度連貫的結構

that they use to show the inconsistencies

去顯示政府政策

in government policies.

前後矛盾的地方。

And so what I want you to remember from this talk

今天演說想你記住的

are three things.

有三件事。

The first one is that drug violence

第一，毒品的暴力行為

is actually the result

是巨大市場

of a huge market demand

需求的結果，

and an institutional setup that forces

還有機構的設置迫使

the servicing of this market to necessitate violence

服務這市場需要暴力

to guarantee delivery routes.

去保證運輸路線。

The second thing I want you to remember

第二，

is that these are sophisticated,

這些都是複雜，

coherent organizations

協調一致的組織，

that are business organizations,

是商業組織，

and analyzing them and treating them as such

視他們為商業組織以剖析和探討

is probably a much more useful approach.

是一個更有效的方法。

The third thing I want you to remember

第三，

is that even though we're more comfortable

「他們都是壞人，與我無關。」

with this idea of "them,"

即使我們這樣看「他們」

a set of bad guys separated from us,

更加舒服，

we are actually accomplices to them,

我們其實都是他們的幫兇。

either through our direct consumption

我們或直接消費

or through our acceptance of the inconsistency

或接受其矛盾存在於

between our policies of prohibition

我們禁令政策

and our actual behavior of tolerance

和我們對毒品的容忍

or even encouragement of consumption.

或甚至鼓勵使用毒品。

These organizations service, recruit from,

他們於我們的社區

and operate within our communities,

服務，招募，和經營。

so necessarily, they are much more integrated

他們比我們所認為的

within them than we are comfortable acknowledging.

更加完整。

And so to me the question is not whether

對於我，問題不是

these dynamics will continue the way they have.

這些活動會否維持一樣。

We see that the nature of this phenomenon

這種活動的性質

guarantees that they will.

保證他們會繼續。

The question is whether we are willing to continue

問題是我們是否願意繼續

our support of a failed strategy

支援一個失敗的策略，

based on our stubborn, blissful, voluntary ignorance

基於我們固執、 幸福、 自願的無知

at the cost of the deaths of thousands of our young.

代價是幾千個年輕人將死亡。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）