About

A drug cartel (Cártel) is a branch of criminal organization with a corporate-style vertical structure similar to the Mafia. As seen in the definition of a cartel, the difference lies in the form of collusion and monopoly, and they are primarily groups that generate profit by producing and trafficking drugs. In regions where drugs are produced, the influence of these organizations is as strong as the government. As long as they are willing to risk sanctions, armed crackdowns, or domestic suppression like the DEA, it is a low-cost, high-return business. The scale of the funds they handle is so massive that they are on a completely different level from typical organized gangs in South Korea that focus on petty trafficking or running bars. Most cartels exert significant influence over their regions to ensure smooth drug production. Consequently, the areas controlled by a cartel often hold a higher status than most government organizations. Because they are deeply involved in politics and the economy based on poor security and the wealth gap in their strongholds, even high-ranking officials cannot treat them lightly. Furthermore, to win over the public, they engage in populist acts such as distributing food or giving gifts to children. As mentioned later, most criminal organizations, including gangs and the Japanese Yakuza, are generally friendly—or at least not hostile—to civilians unless they express dissatisfaction or cause direct harm to the organization. However, if someone directly expresses negative opinions about the cartel, it is common for them to be personally visited and beheaded or killed through various other methods. Therefore, one must never cross a cartel in Central and South America. Fundamentally, like all criminal organizations, even if a leader is removed, a nearby large organization quickly absorbs the power and grows stronger. Yet, because they are often integrated with the local civilian population, attempting to eliminate them entirely can easily escalate into human rights issues or international diplomatic problems, leaving even the United States unable to intervene significantly. Powerful figures in a cartel are commonly called "Drug Lords." The drug cartel organizations operating in Enigma maintain their power through fear, primarily in the northern regions, especially the border area between North Enigma and South Enigma. Consequently, the central northern region has deteriorated into a de facto semi-independent state where security is so poor that it's said the government has effectively abandoned these areas. Public authority has collapsed to the point where residents follow the cartel's orders more than the federal government's. Since this is cartel territory, if civilians make statements disadvantageous to them or criticize them—essentially talking behind their backs—retaliation involving kidnapping or murder frequently occurs. Because of this, local media in Enigma are so afraid of retaliation that they do not report on the cartels at all. The problem is that even if high-ranking members could be arrested, authorities avoid doing so because of the resulting retaliation. In short, public power does not reach here properly.