'Narcos' is fictional, but 'Inside the Real Narcos' is anything but fiction. British host Jason Fox, a former member of the British Special Forces, is the perfect person to uncover the truths of the drug cartels in Latin America. After serving time in Afghanistan, he has both the training and composure to place himself in precarious situations to reveal the people behind the drugs.
The show first aired in the U.K. last August and was brought to Netflix last December. During the three episodes, Fox travels to Mexico, Colombia and Peru to not only reveal the inner workings of the narcos, but to better understand how people become involved in the industry and what keeps them involved.
These are the people we rarely hear about. These are the people rarely on camera.
Yet, the most interesting part of this show is all that we learn about the drug cartels. Fox ventures deep into the organizations, meeting with individuals on various levels, but then takes it one step further. Interviewing and spending time with police forces in all three locales provides another perspective of the underground world of drug cartels.
There are a number of key takeaways we learn from 'Inside the Real Narcos' and the three countries to which Fox travels. Each is different, but similarities abound.
In Mexico, the Sinaloa drug cartel runs everything. They are so powerful that law enforcement is unable to make headway in the war on drugs, and the policing has also been corrupted. El Chapo's legacy lives on within the Sinaloa cartel despite his absence. His empire is so vast and powerful that it will likely never fall. The violence is unlike anything else Fox has seen, with people being killed as warning signs to others. His time with the police here reveals they do not have the means of stopping this empire.
In Colombia, the legacy of Pablo Escobar lives on in the impoverished communities. He was and still is, regarded as a savior for those trying to make ends meet by providing for them from his profits. However, it is these communities now heavily involved in the drug trade trying to make end's meat and support their families. Fox's time with the police in Colombia reveals greater tensions and again, an overall lack of resources to make headway.
In Peru, the poor communities that harvest coca leaves are largely unaware of the impact of cocaine on the rest of the world and the enormity of the drug trade. It's just a form of payment needed to survive. The sacredness of the coca plant here leaves the police unable to eradicate it as it is the lifeline for the communities that harvest it and rely on it for income.
Overall, most members of the drug trade enter because of money and because of its proliferation in their immediate communities. It is rarely a free-willing choice, but one made either in a time of desperation or because of convenience. Many of those involved come from impoverished communities, rarely able to move away and find legitimate jobs.
It's not their fault or the fault of the cartels. The cartels simply monetize upon and provide for those in dire situations, left to fend for themselves.
Rarely do the governments care and a lack of employment or mobility opportunities leaves these communities forgotten and in precarious situations.
