NR: "Anything that makes
these drug cartels stronger is not good news for
America."
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Length: 3:12
LARGE (37.2 MB)
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SMALL (3.9 MB)
Don Lemon re-airs Michael's report
from last Monday about the cartels diversifying
into the human trafficking business, and then talks
to Michael about the problems -- and the dangers --
as the cartels evolve.
DON LEMON:
CNN's Michael Ware joins us now. He is back in New
York.
Michael, you know, you have been just about in every
dangerous territory on earth. Did you feel unsafe at
all, though, covering this story? It seems very
dangerous.
MICHAEL WARE: Well, obviously, there's a danger
lurking when you're doing anything with the drug
cartels. Although the ones who are bearing the price
of that, journalistically, are the Mexican
journalists. I mean, they are literally being
kidnapped and executed by the cartels for their
reporting.
Now, for us, the way we have to operate is in and out
very, very fast. Now, you'll see people going past
you, making quick phone calls on cell phones. You'll
see that there are people watching you, a couple of
cars will circle around. You always have to be aware
of your surroundings when you're doing a story like
this.
Were we in direct danger? I don't think so. But it's
the sort of story where you really have to keep your
wits about you, Don.
LEMON: You know, the Zetas -- you know, I hate to
sound insensitive. Is this just -- you know, human
smuggling -- for them is this just another revenue
stream? Or is this, you know -- is this very
profitable for them? How do they view this human
smuggling as far as making money?
WARE: Well, you've hit the nail on the head. It is
just another revenue stream. In many ways, it's just
following a classic business model. Especially in
hard economic times, what do you do? You diversify.
Now, the question is, why are they doing this?
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration in
D.C., it's because the cartels are coming under so
much pressure in terms of their drug business that
they're branching out into other enterprises.
However, people on the ground say no, no, no, this is
the cartels' flexing their muscles. They're moving
into human trafficking. Soon, they'll going to be
moving into all sorts of illicit businesses, if not
taking over. Then -- like, say, mafia in New York
neighborhoods -- they'll be taxing illicit activities
within their own territories.
LEMON: So then how does this compare to drugs then? I
mean, is this just as profitable or does it have the
potential to become as profitable as drug
trafficking?
WARE: They do say human trafficking is a
multimillion, perhaps multibillion dollar a year
business. But, no, it's still going to be cocaine.
That's their primary business. That is definitely a
multibillion dollar business every year. I mean, the
DEA estimates anything from $10 billion to $40
billion travels south to Mexico every year in the
drug trade.
So it's going to be hard for anything to compete with
that. That's going to remain their primary business,
but we're going to see them spread out, diversify,
consolidate their power and their business and
anything that makes these drug cartels stronger is
not good news for America, Don.
LEMON: Michael, I know that you're back now. Do you
have any plans on going back to the region though and
continuing to cover this?
WARE: Well, I certainly won't be advertising because
I don't want to give anyone a heads up. But, yes,
Don, Mexico, the drug wars, Central America is now
very much a part of what I'll be doing.
LEMON: All right. We will be following you, Michael.
Great reporting out of there. Thank you so much for
joining us.
WARE: Thanks, mate.