The Expanding Drug Trade in Latin America: New Routes and Emerging Players

From ports in Uruguay to street-level dealing in Peru, the Latin American drug trade is shifting. This article explores new trafficking corridors, emerging criminal actors, and the regional responses to a growing and complex security challenge.

New trafficking routes and urban microtrafficking reshape Latin America's narco dynamics

The drug trade in Latin America is not a static enterprise. It evolves rapidly, adapting to new political climates, technological shifts, and global demand. While Mexico and Colombia have long dominated headlines, recent years have seen an expansion of trafficking operations into previously peripheral nations such as Uruguay and Bolivia, as well as the emergence of new distribution models like microtrafficking in urban centers of Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina.

A Shifting Narco Map: From Andes to Atlantic

Historically, the Andean region—specifically Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia—has been the primary source of cocaine production. However, trafficking routes have shifted in response to tighter enforcement in the Caribbean and Central America. Increasingly, criminal organizations are exploiting Atlantic ports in Uruguay and southern Brazil as exit points to European markets. Montevideo, for instance, has become a growing hotspot for drug seizures. In December 2023, authorities intercepted over 800 kg of cocaine in a container bound for Antwerp, underscoring the port’s rising strategic value.

Uruguay’s Changing Role

Long considered one of the safest and most politically stable countries in Latin America, Uruguay now finds itself implicated in the regional narcotics chain. This is not due to domestic production, but because of its efficient maritime infrastructure and lax port inspections. Analysts suggest that transnational criminal groups, including remnants of Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), are exploiting these vulnerabilities to consolidate new shipping corridors.

In response, Uruguay has increased its investment in port surveillance technology and fostered cooperation with European anti-narcotics agencies. But critics argue that these measures are still insufficient without a broader regional strategy.

Microtrafficking: The Urban Face of the Drug Trade

While international trafficking often garners the most attention, the rise of microtrafficking—the localized, low-volume sale of drugs—has become a growing concern in countries like Peru. In Lima, police report that drug sales in school zones have increased by over 40% since 2021. This shift is fueled by economic precarity, lack of job opportunities, and the fragmentation of larger cartels into smaller, agile gangs.

Unlike the powerful cartels of the past, today’s urban narco networks rely heavily on youth recruitment, social media platforms for coordination, and the use of cryptocurrencies to launder proceeds. The blurred line between organized crime and petty delinquency makes it harder for law enforcement to develop targeted interventions.

New Actors and Decentralization

A key feature of this new phase in the drug trade is decentralization. Traditional cartels have splintered into dozens of smaller, semi-autonomous groups. These operate across borders but maintain localized control. In Ecuador, this fragmentation has led to unprecedented violence, especially in port cities like Guayaquil, where gang clashes regularly make national headlines.

In Argentina, drug gangs in Rosario have adopted more sophisticated logistics, mimicking the strategies of Mexican cartels—complete with tunnel construction, bribery networks, and the use of drones for reconnaissance. These changes challenge the conventional view that only Mexico or Colombia are the powerhouses of Latin America's drug economy.

Government Responses: Between Repression and Reform

Across Latin America, governments are scrambling to adapt. Peru has launched a controversial anti-narco campaign that includes mandatory military service for youth in high-risk areas. Uruguay is piloting a public education campaign aimed at identifying early signs of youth recruitment.

However, these efforts often suffer from lack of coordination, limited funding, and inconsistent political will. Experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warn that without a comprehensive, transnational strategy, local victories will remain fragile.

Conclusion: A Regional Crisis Demands Regional Solutions

The evolution of the drug trade in Latin America reflects deeper structural issues—economic inequality, institutional fragility, and the growing sophistication of criminal actors. From the bustling streets of Lima to the shipping docks of Montevideo, the narco landscape is diversifying and adapting. Addressing it requires not only repression but also long-term investment in social development, regional intelligence sharing, and international collaboration.

Without such measures, Latin America risks becoming a more fractured, violent, and strategically compromised region—one where the drug trade continues to mutate faster than policymakers can respond.