National Geographic Explorer - Narco State

National Geographic Explorer - Narco State

It's a raging drug war that has turned Phoenix, Arizona into the second kidnapping capitol of the world. NGC correspondent Lisa Ling embeds with the Phoenix Police Department as they investigate the latest drug-related kidnapping, uncover a cache of $3 million worth of marijuana and ambush suspects at a ransom drop-off. Then, we'll cross the border and ride along with a photojournalist on his crime beat in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico - the deadliest city in North America.

According to the Department of Justice's National Drug Intelligence Center, Mexican and Colombian Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO's) amass some $18 to $39 billion in wholesale drug profits annually. It is their belief that this money is then "bulk" smuggled outside of the United States via the Mexican border.

According to the U.S. State Department, 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the U.S. passes through Mexico on its way to the U.S., 65 percent of which crosses the U.S.- Mexico border.

Mexican marijuana remains the most widely available marijuana in the U.S. market.

There are some six major Mexican drug cartels that control the majority of illicit drug trafficking: the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, the Beltran Leyva Cartel, Los Zetas and La Familia.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the alleged head of the Sinaloa Cartel and #701 on Forbes's list of the world's billionaires, got his start in the drug trade as an air and logistics expert, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to University of San Diego's Transborder Institute, there were 5,153 drug-related killings in Mexico in 2008.

In the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the border city of Juarez is located, there were 1,649 drug-related killings, 32 percent of the national total.

As of July 3, 2009, there were an additional 3,054 drug-related deaths in Mexico, 896 of which happened in Chihuahua State.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the city of Phoenix, Arizona, is a regional and national distribution center for illicit drug trafficking due in part to its well-developed highway system.

Phoenix ranks number two in the world in kidnapping, behind Mexico City.

In 2008, there were 368 kidnappings in Phoenix. This is a jump from an annual average of around 250 from 2003 to 2006.

Since December 2006, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has mobilized 45,000 Mexican military troops to fight the drug traffickers.

Mexico is one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists to work. In 2007, it was ranked just second behind Iraq as the deadliest country in the world for journalists.

FORMAT : .AVI
LENGTH : 45M36S