An eyewitness account of the rise of Mexico's drug cartels during the first decades of the twenty-first century. Looks at the extremely violent criminal drug cartels that have arisen in Mexico, maintaining that the phenomenon has in fact turned into a broad-based insurgency in support of drug traffic profits.

First published in 2011; includes an afterword dated July, 2012. Includes maps of: Golden Triangle.

Ghosts -- Pt. I. History: Poppies -- Hippies -- Cartels -- Tycoons -- Democrats -- Warlords -- Pt. II. Anatomy: Traffic -- Murder -- Culture -- Faith -- Insurgency -- Pt. III. Destiny: Prosecution -- Expansion -- Diversification -- Peace -- Afterword.