Narco-Cults: Understanding the Use of Afro-Caribbean and Mexican Religious Cultures in the Drug Wars

342 Pages·2015·31.7 MB·English

by  Tony M. Kail

LAW ENFORCEMENT NARCO-CULTS
Kail
NARCO-CULTS
Understanding the
Understanding the Use of Afro-Caribbean and
Use of Afro-Caribbean and
Mexican Religious Cultures in the Drug Wars
Mexican Religious Cultures
Those who know about how spirituality plays into the world of drug smug-
gling have likely heard of Santa Muerte, Jesus Malverde, and Santería, but the
details of the more obscure African religions and Latin American folk saints in the Drug Wars
and cults often remain a mystery. While the vast majority of these religions
are practiced by law-abiding citizens with no connections to the drug trade,
N
their religious beliefs and practices are often appropriated by drug cartels and
used to psychologically empower members of these organizations. Therefore, A
knowledge about narco-cults and spirituality related to the drug trade can be
R
incredibly useful to narcotics officers, military and intelligence agents, and even
the average street cop. C
O
Narco-Cults: Understanding the Use of Afro-Caribbean and Mexican
-
Religious Cultures in the Drug Wars looks at the growing phenomenon
C
of narco-cults and the use of indigenous spiritual traditions among drug traf-
ficking organizations. Based on two decades of experience from one of the U
top consultants in the field, it provides investigative agencies with a means of
L
identifying symbols, rituals, artifacts, and customs endemic to various drug T
trafficking organizations. The book features illustrations of altars, shrines, and
S
tools along with detailed descriptions of their cultural significance and practical
application in rituals and customs.
Derived from empirical research, this sourcebook provides reliable information
taken from ethnographic fieldwork, police reports, and interviews with practi-
tioners. The knowledge contained herein will help build cultural competency
among the many agencies investigating drug crimes.
K20724
Tony M. Kail
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NARCO-CULTS
Understanding the
Use of Afro-Caribbean and
Mexican Religious Cultures
in the Drug Wars

NARCO-CULTS
Understanding the
Use of Afro-Caribbean and
Mexican Religious Cultures
in the Drug Wars
Tony M. Kail
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2015 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Version Date: 20150319
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4665-9546-0 (eBook - PDF)
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Dedication
This book is dedicated to the men and women of law enforcement.
Thank you for being the thin blue line. Thank you to every wife,
husband, and child who stands behind an officer.
In memory of the victims of the drug war.

Contents
Foreword ...........................................................................................................xv
Preface .............................................................................................................xvii
Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................xix
About the Author ............................................................................................xxi
Chapter 1 Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) .................1
The war on drugs in Mexico ............................................................................1
Mexico’s drug war ..............................................................................................2
The cartels .........................................................................................................22
Los Zetas .......................................................................................................23
Sinaloa Federation .......................................................................................26
Beltrán-Levya cartel ....................................................................................27
Gulf cartel .....................................................................................................28
Tijuana cartel ................................................................................................29
Juárez cartel ..................................................................................................30
La Familia Michoacana (LFM) ..................................................................30
Los Caballeros Templarios .........................................................................31
Street gangs .......................................................................................................32
Narcoterrorism .................................................................................................32
Narco violence ..................................................................................................34
Narcocultura .....................................................................................................34
Narco terminology ...........................................................................................36
Narco corridos ..................................................................................................38
Narco entertainment ........................................................................................39
Narco fashion ....................................................................................................40
References .........................................................................................................40
Chapter 2 Narco-cults .................................................................................43
Defining narco-cults ........................................................................................44
The function of the narco-cult .......................................................................46
Order ..................................................................................................................47
vii
viii Contents
Ethics ..................................................................................................................51
Protection ..........................................................................................................51
The business of protecting drug traffickers .................................................54
Protection from law enforcement ..................................................................56
Protection from rivals ......................................................................................56
Additional functions .......................................................................................57
Indoctrination ...................................................................................................57
Types of narco-cults .........................................................................................58
References .........................................................................................................58
Chapter 3 The role of religious culture in narco-cult investigation ...61
The importance of culture ..............................................................................61
Defining culture ...............................................................................................61
Cultural competency .......................................................................................62
Culture shock ....................................................................................................63
Family resemblances .......................................................................................65
Sources of cultural intelligence ......................................................................67
Analyzing cultures ..........................................................................................70
Cultural context ................................................................................................71
Anthropological terms ....................................................................................71
Afro-Caribbean religious cultures and African traditional religions .....72
Magico-religious cultures ...............................................................................74
Spells and workings ........................................................................................75
Magical mindset ...............................................................................................75
The effect on drug traffickers .........................................................................76
References .........................................................................................................77
Chapter 4 Santería (Regla de Ocha) .........................................................79
Traffickers and the religion (case examples) ................................................79
Historical background .....................................................................................81
Beliefs .................................................................................................................84
Deities of Santería ............................................................................................85
Elegua............................................................................................................86
Ogun .............................................................................................................88
Ochosi ...........................................................................................................88
Oshun ............................................................................................................89
Obatala ..........................................................................................................89
Shango...........................................................................................................89
Oya ................................................................................................................90
Yemaya ..........................................................................................................91
Babalu-aye ....................................................................................................91
Olokun ..........................................................................................................93
Orula .............................................................................................................93
Osain .............................................................................................................94