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Woooosh
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Mexico drug lord on Forbes rich list with $1 bln
Huh?
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11254679.htm
11 Mar 2009 23:01:53 GMT
Source: Reuters
MEXICO CITY, March 11 (Reuters) - Mexico's most wanted man Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, blamed for thousands of deaths in a drug war, has made it onto
the Forbes Magazine list of the world's richest people with an estimated $1 billion fortune.
Guzman, who is just 5 feet tall (1.55 metres), escaped from prison in 2001 to set off a wave of killings across Mexico in an attempt to dominate the
country's highly lucrative drug trade into the United States.
"He is not available for interviews," Luisa Kroll, senior editor of Forbes, said on Wednesday. "But his financial situation is doing quite well."
Forbes placed Guzman at 701 on its list, tied with dozens of others worldwide with riches of some $1 billion.
Guzman, 51, who officials believe changes his cell phone every day to avoid being tracked, is often compared to the late Colombian kingpin Pablo
Escobar, whom Forbes has said amassed a fortune of $3 billion before he was killed by police in 1993.
The Mexican smuggler is "basically one of the biggest providers of cocaine to the United States," Kroll said. The magazine based its tally of his
fortune on estimates from drug-trade analysts and U.S. government data.
Guzman's prison escape and ability to elude capture for eight years are an embarrassment to the Mexican government.
He has outwitted four major government drives to find him between 2002 and 2007. His escapades are the stuff of legend in the areas he controls and in
popular "narcocorrido" songs that glorify drug traffickers.
Mexico's attorney general, Eduardo Medina Mora, told Reuters last week that defeating Guzman's cartel of traffickers from the Pacific state of Sinaloa
was a priority in President Felipe Calderon's army-backed drug fight.
Some 7,000 people have been killed in drug violence across Mexico since the start of last year as rival gangs fight each other and Mexican security
forces. Guzman's enforcers from the Sinaloa cartel are among the most vicious hitmen.
Forbes said Mexican and Colombian traffickers laundered between $18 billion and $39 billion in proceeds from wholesale drugs shipments to the United
States in 2008.
Guzman and his operation likely grossed 20 percent of that -- enough for him to have pocketed $1 billion over his career and earn a spot on the
billionaire's list for the first time.
About 90 percent of all cocaine consumed in the United States comes through Mexico. It also is a major source of heroin, methamphetamines and
marijuana in the United States.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Bajahowodd
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On behalf of tall people, I wish to protest. On behalf of decent people, I wish to protest. On behalf of sane people, WTF is Forbes doing by
glorifying a scumbag?
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
On behalf of tall people, I wish to protest. On behalf of decent people, I wish to protest. On behalf of sane people, WTF is Forbes doing by
glorifying a scumbag? |
Unbelievable, and here I always thought Forbes was a legitimate rag.
This will just elevate Guzman to sainthood 
CaboRob
[Edited on 3-12-2009 by CaboRon]
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oldlady
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Say what? If he is worth that much money Forbes should not print it?
The article indicates that the cocaine users in the US, his primary market, have made this man very wealthy and "influential". It can't be a bad
thing that they know the greater good for which their money is used.
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Bajaboy
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There are plenty of bad people on that list. Not too sure why Forbes would not include him?
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beercan
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Forbes tries to report facts --
Just an illustration of the "power" that the drug trade gives some --
* libs, all about choice until you choose different
* B. Hussein Obama - an Empty Suit for Empty Minds.
* Annoy a liberal - Work hard and be happy!
* Arguing facts & truth to libs is like bringing a warm smile to a gun fight.
* Lets win the War on Terror
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cantinflas
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short people got no reason
short people got no reason
short people got no reason
to live
they got little hands
little eyes
they walk around tellin great big lies
they got little noses and tiny little teeth
they wear platform shoes on their nasty little feet
well I dont want no short people
dont want no short people
dont want no short people
round here
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oldlady
Say what? If he is worth that much money Forbes should not print it?
The article indicates that the cocaine users in the US, his primary market, have made this man very wealthy and "influential". It can't be a bad
thing that they know the greater good for which their money is used. |
I thought that remark about cocaine was outdated, and was surprised by it. The current situation is that European street coke prices are double the
pirce and demand of the USA- so much is now being sent directly to europe from Columbia without going through Mexico- so the Mexican narcos don't take
a cut and profit from transporting it.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Bajajack
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Give the guy a break, he's one of mexico's major employers.
Think of all the Chicken Thieves taken off the streets and who are now gainfully employed, he should be commended for his community efforts.
\"take what you can, give nothing back!\"
We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the
American people.\'
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
We can have no \"50-50\" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Woooosh
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oldlady
Say what? If he is worth that much money Forbes should not print it?
The article indicates that the cocaine users in the US, his primary market, have made this man very wealthy and "influential". It can't be a bad
thing that they know the greater good for which their money is used. |
If he is ever caught, the IRS will want at him. His consumers are american and his narco-income is taxable. Just like Al Capone.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Leo
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All signs of change. tremendus change in our shrinking world that makes everything more noticable. Some 30% bilionaires from the year before didn't
make the list. This scumbag is one of the new faces on the block. And it will get uglier.
The grass is always greener....
and so, there is always a better spot in Baja
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Iflyfish
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Bernie Madoff/ Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, what's the difference? Same players, different game.
Iflyfish
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Bajahowodd
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Maybe they should publish two lists. One legitimate and one illegitmate. Hmmm. but I guess the problem will then become one of definition.
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BMG
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| Quote: | Originally posted by beercan
Just an illustration of the "power" that the drug trade gives some -- |
Speaking of 'power', Forbes now lists Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman as the 41st most powerful man in the world.
I think the world is run by C- students.
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Woooosh
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Yeah- big surprise there... money=power.
He got bumped up a few spot for the "narco fear factor"... money+fear=mucho power
[Edited on 11-12-2009 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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teadust
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
I thought that remark about cocaine was outdated, and was surprised by it. The current situation is that European street coke prices are double the
pirce and demand of the USA- so much is now being sent directly to europe from Columbia without going through Mexico- so the Mexican narcos don't take
a cut and profit from transporting it. |
They're profiting. They're completely transnational/global now - squeeze them in one area and they just expand into others. They're bypassing the
Colombians—by making deals in Peru and Bolivia; working with 'Ndrangheta, the Italian mob in Calabria, and have been using weak countries in Africa
and middle East for a few years now both to receive shipments of ephedrine in Mexico, and as ports to ship drugs, including cocaine, into Europe.
Dollar drops in value? Go for Euros.
Some good recent articles about who, what, where, and how:
Are Mexican Cartels Expanding for Profit or Survival?
—"The U.S. drug market is no longer satisfying the greed of Mexican drug lords and their cartels. Now they’re looking to Europe and the stronger
purchasing power of the higher-value euro, and they’re using West Africa to get there.
But before we delve into Africa, we need to examine the recent history of Mexican cartel expansion into Europe and elsewhere in the Americas.
In January 2007, the Mexico City daily El Universal reported on the presence of Mexican cartels in Peru and their likely involvement with the
terrorist group Shining Path. The report cited Western diplomats and Peruvian authorities, who said in South America, the Mexican groups are bypassing
the Colombians and cutting their own deals with coca farmers in Peru and Bolivia. They’re also setting up dozens of tiny state-of-the-art cocaine
processing labs inside Peruvian territory...
...West Africa, particularly in the north, has become the transshipment point for cocaine into Europe and Russia. This shows the strategic risk not
only for Mexico, Colombia and the United States, but for Africa, Europe and everywhere else,” Braun said in a recent interview with El Universal.
“There are groups equivalent to Mexican drug cartels in Colombia, including the FARC, who are establishing their presence in West Africa because they
need logistical support from African organized crime groups to send tons of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, then to Europe, Russia and elsewhere.”
Mexican Cartel Seeks Italian Renaissance with the Italian Ndrangheta Criminal Group, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin
—"'In May 2008, US President George Bush designated the 'Ndrangheta criminal group as a "foreign narcotics kingpin", recognising its status as a
dominant force in importing cocaine into Europe. As such, it came as little surprise when a major United States and Italian police operation revealed
in September that the 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, Italy, had formed a strategic alliance with Mexico's Gulf Cartel, another major actor in
international drug smuggling."
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
| Quote: | Originally posted by oldlady
Say what? If he is worth that much money Forbes should not print it?
The article indicates that the cocaine users in the US, his primary market, have made this man very wealthy and "influential". It can't be a bad
thing that they know the greater good for which their money is used. |
If he is ever caught, the IRS will want at him. His consumers are american and his narco-income is taxable. Just like Al Capone.
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He'll probably have a lot of legitimate deductions, like ammo, guns and acid for dissolving the bodies.
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MitchMan
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I have always felt, in general, that more information is better than less information. If subhuman filth like this short drug kingpin has accumulated
over $1 billion in networth, I want to know about it. I don't see it as glorification in and of itself if this info appeared in Forbes magazine. If
someone's reaction to reading about his wealth serves to "glorify" this ugly little hemorroid, then the problem is with that readers values. I don't
think that Forbes aught to sensor itself based on misguided readers or even the potential for feeding info to the misguided. However, I do draw the
line on showing people how to make non-sport weapons.
[Edited on 11-17-2009 by MitchMan]
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DENNIS
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Tatiana Serafin, co-editor of Forbes World's Billionaires, said that the UK's super-rich were particularly badly hit by the fall in real estate
values.
She added: "These billionaires own companies that employ people like you and me. And if their stocks tank, they will have to lay off people. There is
a trickle down effect."
--------------
I guess she didn't read the entire list.
OOOPS...She put the list together. She must be one of those real deeeep thinkers.
[Edited on 11-17-2009 by DENNIS]
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Woooosh
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If we accept that drugs are bypassing both Mexico and Columbian middle-men, there has to be a tipping point. If the narco profit is truly double
selling drugs to Europe with Euros, why risk the DEA and IRS doing business in the USA? Most of Africa is certifiably corrupt- and has perfected it
to the point of genocide. That should be the path of least resistance for narco trafficing- and pull it away from the the USA.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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