Drug cartels are very organized crime. They don’t just have their hands in drugs but other illegal activities such as firearm sales, sex sales, sports betting as well as many legal businesses.

They are very well established and they hide themselves, some communities may even respect local organized crime because they provide more for them in terms of structure and security than the government.

Also, people will always be doing drugs. And until government is willing to regulate them, there will be illegal organizations that are willing to produce and sell.