Anabel Hernández's 'Narcoland' exposes the deep-rooted corruption and government complicity in Mexico's drug trade, focusing on the escape and rise of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán. The book reveals how high-ranking officials and politicians have colluded with cartels, making it nearly impossible to combat drug trafficking effectively.
Anabel Hernández's 'Narcoland' is a courageous and meticulously researched expose of the corruption and government complicity that has allowed Mexico's drug cartels to thrive. The book begins with the story of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán's escape from prison, which Hernández reveals was not a daring jailbreak but rather a facilitated release due to his connections with high-ranking officials. This sets the stage for a broader investigation into how the Mexican government, from President Vicente Fox to Felipe Calderon, has systematically targeted Guzmán's enemies while protecting him and his Sinaloa cartel. Hernández's personal connection to the issue, having lost her father to cartel violence, adds a poignant and urgent tone to her reporting. The book is filled with shocking revelations about the complicity of officials like Genaro Garcia Luna, Calderon's Secretary of Public Security, who was unable to explain his sudden wealth and whose department was riddled with corruption. Despite the grim picture it paints, 'Narcoland' provides a historical context that helps us understand the deep-seated nature of the problem and the challenges in finding a solution.
Quick quotes
The story that Hernández unfolds from there shows the near-complete impunity from which criminals benefit in Mexico mostly due to government complicity.
These are the true godfathers of Narcoland, the true lords of the drug world.
It’s the kind of complicity and failure that plagued Calderon’s entire effort.