...In February 2009 was the day reality caught up with nine firms who have run a hard core cartel in pre-cast concrete products since 1973. On this day the Commission referred yet another cartel case to the Competition Tribunal for adjudication, citing Rocla, Aveng as a holding company (hereafter referred to as Infraset), Southern Pipeline Contractors (SPC), Cobro, Concrete Units, Cape Concrete, Concrite Walls, Grallio, Craig Concrete, and D&D Concrete (hereafter referred to as “the Rocla matter”). On the same day as the Commission referred these charges to the Competition Tribunal, the Commission settled certain particulars of the complaint with Aveng, including an administrative penalty of R46 million. Rocla, a subsidiary of Murray & Roberts, was granted conditional leniency by the Commission after coming forward in December 2007. Rocla complied with the Commission’s Corporate Leniency Policy (CLP) in providing information which implicated itself and its competitors in price fixing and fixing of trading conditions, market allocation and collusive tendering in the market for pre-cast concrete products such as pipes, manholes and culverts. This information revealed a textbook example of a classic cartel, complete with well written modus operandi, sanctions for non-compliance, payments to keep competition out of the market, intent and ability to raise prices and effective monitoring mechanisms. It all began in 1973 when enforcement of competition laws was not as rigorous as it is...
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...Mexico. The drug cartels have taken over the city and have continued to control the city. The city officials have been defeated over and over again; hopeless they still search for new ways to win this ongoing war. Using technology in the United States has become a crucial part of it's survival, since our failure to use intelligence properly in the attack of nine-eleven. Mexico is now attempting to use use the same method in hope that they can be steps ahead of the cartel to ensure success. The Drug Cartels are very violent organizations in Mexico. Between December 2006 and December 2010, there were more than 30,000 deaths in the country. The Cartels in Mexico have become very powerful since the Colombian cocaine traffickers were prevented from transporting their drugs through the Caribbean into the United States. In the 1970 the Colombian cartels transported the cocaine shipment either by plane or by sea. The United States with the use of radar could easily track them and confiscate their shipment. In the drug cartel technology usage will be used in the measure intelligence it is “investigating illegal drug trafficking” . (Buckley, John (2013-10-30) In the late 1980’s the cartel had to ship large shipments. The Columbian Cartel would do their shipment through the Caribbean . In this book it states that it “was easy guarded with the use of radar and since all drugs shipments were made by air or sea“. (Meisenhalter 129) The Colombian cartel was forced to subcontract...
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...The “bathroom manufacturers” cartel case Maastricht University | | | | School of Business & Economics | | | | Place & date: | Maastricht, 28.11.2014 | Name, initials: | Romet Puiga, RP | ID number: | I6094472 | Study: | Economics & Business Economics | Course code: | EBC1010 | Group number: | 2 | Tutor name: | Kutay Cingiz | Writing tutor name: | Jim Schumacher | Writing assignment: | Main Paper (Task 10) | | | r.puiga@maastrichtuniversity.nl Table of Contents 1. Topic introduction 2. About cartelization 3. Overview of EU antitrust legislation 4. Analysis of the “bathroom manufacturers” cartel case 5. Conclusion References 1. Introduction According to the European Commission Press Release Database, 2010, Article IP/10/790, seventeen bathroom equipment manufacturers were fined a total amount of €622 million for engaging in cartelization the same year. This case certainly provides an interesting topic for research and analysis as the cartel included seventeen manufacturers in six European countries and had a lifespan of twelve years. These quick facts demonstrate just how serious, extensive and carefully covered the agreement was. Not only did this market manipulation have a significant effect on the economy of these six countries, but also on the economic situation of the European Union as a whole and therefore touched the global economy. As the case is so extensive, it is important to...
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...Commission’s corporate leniency policy on 7 December 2007 in which Rocla alleged that the above-mentioned firms were members of a cartel. On 18 March 2008, the Commission initiated an investigation and found that the cartel operated from 1973 until 2007 in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and in the Western Cape. Shortly after the complaint was filed, 4 of the firms obtained consent orders, D&D and Craig Concrete no longer existed, SPC and Concrite admitted their involvement but disputed the quantum of the penalty imposed and Galio denied involvement. The national cartel commenced in 1973 and was founded by Rocla and grew over the years and regional cartels were also formed. Members met regularly, every second Tuesday of the month after Concrete Manufactures Association meetings. Secret informal meetings were also held at different locations. In allocating contracts, the respondents would identify and compile a list of all available tenders, agree among themselves who would be allocated what work and on prices to be quoted for tenders. These allocations occurred in monthly meetings in which a cartel member known as the ‘banker’ presented a list of all available contracts. The banker would compile a comprehensive list of all tenders available and a summary of product delivered by each respondent over a particular period, in order to enable the cartel to monitor adherence to agreed tonnages. Members were limited to producing certain products in certain regions, allocated geographic...
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...What is the impact of Mexican drug cartels in the United States? Andres F Urueta Dr. Maugh LIB-495-GS001 December 5, 2014 Abstract This research paper examines the impact of Mexican drug cartels in the United States. Most Americans are not aware of how far reaching these cartels are in the United States. Their power has an influence in our government and communities. This project examines who the Mexican Drug cartels are, what their purpose is, where they have influences, and when did they start to become a problem for the United States. This paper also touches base on the impact of the drugs that are illegally brought into the United States by these cartels and their methods for justice. These cartels generate billions of dollars at the expense of Americans who become addicted to the drugs that are transported in the United states. Are these cartels a problem of the past or an indication of the future. Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Literature Review Chapter 3 Research Design and Methodology Chapter 4 Results of Study Chapter 5 Summary and Discussion Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 6 Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction The Mexican drug cartels have been a cancer that has grown throughout Mexico. Influenced by Colombian cartels, such as the Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel. In 2008, over 5,600 people were killed in Mexico. Many of them were tortured or beheaded (Hixson, 2009). The cartels have stretched from the border town of Tijuana...
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...El Cartel de Medellin Organized crime has been a problem since the early 1900s and has grown to become a major problem for law enforcement. The start of organized crime is known to be part of the prohibition from the early 1920s. In the 1920s organized crime groups were first known to society members as gangs. Most gangs were known to be immigrants from the same group that gather together to commit illegal crimes on other society members or the government. In the United States, organized crime is also known as racketeering. In 1970, congress passed an act known as the RICO act. RICO stands for "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act” (Organized crime, 2003). This act made it easier for law enforcement officials to prosecute individuals who have not committed a crime but has been found guilty of being the head person in charge of an organized crime group. In order for a organized crime group to succeed in a committing crime, history proves that blackmail, bribery, and other forms of manipulation have been used by gang members to gain what they want form society members. One of the best ways that organized crime groups have continued to succeed in the United States is because they have been known to have connections with many different levels of law enforcement and within the government. Organized criminal groups are known to be the main contributors of drug trafficking. Today the types of crimes committed by organized crime groups have grown. As organized crime...
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...Mexico’s Drug Cartel Dilemma Mexico has a major problem in their country. The problem is drug cartels and the drugs they are carrying with them. Mexico’s drug cartels are the most dangerous and lethal cartels of all other countries. They will do anything to get money, even killing innocent people for just a few thousand dollars. The government is trying to stop or contain the drug cartels, but the cartels seem to be resisting. They have influenced some of the Government officials to turn a blind eye to what is happening. Sadly, with the drug cartels, there are some negative effects on the local people of Mexico: most of the locals are either ran out of their homes, have been captured or forced to become a member of their cartels. If the...
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...to the downfall of the government and the rise of a new age. That new age still exists today and is growing every second. The Cartel’s gained their power during the Cold War when Mexico’s government was focused on “internal enemies” when they were killing their own people thought to be in “guerilla groups”. These so called guerilla groups main intention was to protect themselves from the corrupt government but in time they evolved into what is now Mexican Drug Cartel’s. The main reason why the Mexican Drug Cartel’s exist today is because of Mexico’s corrupt government and how they handled the situation. The Mexican government has addressed this problem and has taken baby steps to their main goal and that is to stop these infamous drug cartels from whatever they are smuggling and what not. After World War II there was a slowing of economic growth in Mexico and at that very same time there was a large population growth. This did not go well for Mexico as they saw what little economy they had before slip away. The government still hasn’t rebounded and the economy is still as bad as it can be. Mexico has tried to seek aid from the U.S. but all we gave them was a little friendly advice which was to do what they did best, which basically is work hard get paid less. With little help from the United States, Mexico stands little chance in the war against drugs. A huge problem that Mexico also has to face in order to win the war on drugs is to deal with all of the corrupt politicians...
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...Mexican Drug Cartels Abstract Mexico has long been used as a transshipment point for narcotics and contraband between Latin America and United States markets. Over time, various organizations, also known as “Cartels” have become involved in the distribution, as well as transportation, of illegal drugs and firearms. The fight for power between these known cartels has led to many arrests and deaths of cartel leaders as well as their rivals. While many factors have contributed to the escalating violence, security analysts in Mexico City trace the rising scourge to the longtime implicit arrangement between narcotics traffickers and governments controlled by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which lost its grip on political power in the late 1980s. There was a decrease in the fighting during the late 1990s but the violence steadily worsened after the 2000s. Origin Birth of all Mexican drug cartels is traced to former Mexican Judicial Federal Police agent Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, also known as “The Godfather”. He founded the Guadalajara Cartel in 1980. He started off by smuggling marijuana and opium into the United States and was the first Mexican drug chief to link up with Colombia’s cocaine cartels, which were run by Pablo Escobar. At the time Felix Gallardo was considered the lord of all Mexican drug smugglers and was in charge of all operations; there was just him, his people, and the politicians who sold him protection. In 1985 the Guadalajara...
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...Drug cartels have affected this world in many ways, such as drug trafficking between countries, drug cartel gangs, and the threat to many countries’ national security. Drug trafficking is a heated topic of this century and is mainly practiced in Central and South America. It is hard for the countries’ police forces to crack down on drug trafficking due to drug cartel gangs. Drug cartel gangs are spread out throughout the world. The gangs in Mexico have ties throughout the United States and many more countries. The drug cartel has gotten so powerful that it is considered a terrorist group by many countries. The main concern is members of the cartel spilling over into the United States of America. The drug cartels are responsible for overthrowing...
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...The Global drug trade has a value of more than 400 billion, and Mexican cartels take 30 to 40 billion. Big profits give cartels significant influence on both sides of the border. 23 million Americans use drugs on a monthly basis, and about half of all high school students have used illegal drugs.Mexican cartels are buying their products directly from cocaine producing locations. They are willing to go long distances to acquire raw material for the production of methamphetamine. Mexican cartel members have illicit drugs in Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, and Brazil. They have even been caught in Malaysia. Three Mexicans were arrested in Malaysia in 2008, after being found with 60 pounds of meth. Mexican cartels are looking for new markets to...
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...Joubert, Pearlithea 4/12/14 Essay Norte del Valle Cartel: its Downfall I. HISTORY The Norte Del Valle Cartel was among the most powerful illegal drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States. The Norte Valle Cartel was based off of the Valle del Cauca of Colombia, but smuggled tons of cocaine into the U.S. The estimated amount of cocaine exported weighed roughly 500 tons and racked in an estimated amount of $10 billion dollars since the mid 1990s. With the financial cushion the organization did buy many informants and influenced many high priority officials that would even give escorted security against any enemy organization that would try to rob them. The Norte De Valle Cartel was brought together after the downfall of the Cali Cartel where the former leaders who were not in custody banded together. Ramon Quintero Sanclemente was regarded as a high-ranking member of the Norte Valle Cartel and was even given a capture reward of $5 million dollars. He was also held as one of the top 10 most wanted DEA drug traffickers in the world. He was regarded as one of the last known leaders of the organization and a major Mexican drug cartel asset who helped import large amounts of top quality cocaine into the United States approximately 50 metric tons. II. FINDINGS Back in 2007, the FBI captured the Norte Valle Cartel’s kingpin Diego Montoya Sanchez. Sanchez, also known as “Don Diego,” was captured by the army in the Cartel’s stronghold in Colombia....
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...Life Inside of the Mexican Cartel Christian Thomasson American Public University System Life Inside of the Mexican Cartel The Mexican Drug War has been an ongoing armed conflict that is taking place among cartels that are feuding with one another for control of a specific region or regions. With the Mexican government seeking ways to combat the drug trafficking, more violence and rage is erupting among these groups who continue to fight for turf. Although United States military forces have attempted to intervene, new technology and communication devices gives these groups an edge on law enforcement. They are now able to communicate with their substations and various groups throughout the U.S. while their traffic goes undetected. This student will be discussing the various groups, their activities, and their communication tactics. Sinaloa Cartel The Sinaloa Cartel often described as the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere, is an alliance of some of Mexico’s top capos (McDermott et. al, 2011). The members of the coalition have been known to operate in concert to protect themselves, they also rely on high connections and corrupt law enforcement to keep the upper hand against rivals or those that attempt to infiltrate their operations. The state of Sinaloa has been named the center for contraband in Mexico, as well as the home for marijuana and poppy cultivation (McDermott...
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...War on the Cartels The Mexican government has been fighting a war with drug traffickers since 2006. The starting point of the Mexican Drug War between the government and the drug cartels was when Former Mexican president Felipe Calderon sent 6,500 Mexican Army soldiers to Michoacán, his home state, to end drug violence there. This action is regarded as the first major retaliation made against the cartel violence. In his comprehensive legislative period, President Calderon sent over 50,000 soldiers after the drug cartels. The Mexican government's goal has been to reduce the drug-related violence. President Felipe Calderón had decided that his mandate was to “take back” Mexico from organised crime. To do this, Calderón reasoned, he would need...
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...The Catnip Cartel When you think of the word “Cartel”, typically it is associated with drugs, criminal organizations that traffic drugs, and of course, illegal activity. How is it possible that catnip and cartel are associated? The possession of catnip is not illegal or is it? Let me paint the picture of “The Catnip Cartel” as all may not be as it seems. It was a very warm and far too humid day in July of 1979. One of those Roanoke, Virginia summer days that you need to be lounging by a refreshing pool, but no pool for my sister, Debbie and me. We were stuck at the house with our mother and bored out of our minds. I had shortly returned from residing in Florida and was living with my mother, Sylvia, my stepfather, my younger sister, Debbie,...
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