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War Zone Acapulco: Urban Drug Trafficking in the Americas

Zona de Guerra Acapulco: Tráfico Urbano de Drogas nas Américas

Abstract

Acapulco epitomises the (in)security of urban zones in the Americas whose geographical, political and economic divisions are exacerbated by the political economy and geopolitics of drug trafficking, as well as by militarised attempts to fight it. Various geographic, political, and economic factors in the Acapulco Metropolitan Zone (AMZ) have impacted drug trafficking and organised crime and contributed to high levels of violence. As a result, Acapulco now ranks among the 50 most violent cities in the world. This article analyses the trends in drug trafficking and organised crime in the AMZ, and highlights the lessons for scholars and policy-makers.

Keywords
Drug Trafficking; Urbanisation; Militarisation; Acapulco; Mexico; Criminology; Otherness

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