How Mexico’s Drug Cartels Have Exploited the Pandemic

“In Mexico, the most effective influencers are either politicians or drug lords.”

Influencers need attention. In order to gain followers and the extensive recognition they seek, influencers will do whatever it takes to attract the affection of their target audiences. One of these strategies—and which is one being heavily replicated across social media—is for an influencer to give away money, food, and clothes (often to economically disadvantaged people). This is often done in order to generate views for his or her social media page, as well as to portray the influencer or would-be influencer as a marvelous person who cares for others. In Mexico, the most effective influencers are either politicians or drug lords.

It is not unusual for politicians in Mexico to use clientelistic strategies to create relationships with marginalized communities. While campaigning—in order to attract voters—politicians travel their constituencies giving away groceries, food baskets, and even televisions. Once their campaigns have ended, they continue to use similar schemes to maintain the trust of the people—and to distract voters from any possible wrongdoings on their part. The people who receive these products are often so vulnerable that even a small amount of aid may enable them to feed their family for a week, henceforth sealing a bond with that politician.

As of late, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly across Mexico and has, in turn, been greatly affecting the most vulnerable. All the while, violence—including homicides, femicides, and clashes between different cartels—has not slowed down. In the majority of Mexican states, drug cartels have continued to commit their crimes, and the power that criminal organizations have in Mexico cannot be overstated. To this point, many communities are controlled entirely by cartel members through the use of force or, in some cases, by drug lords who become local political candidates.