Drug trafficking in Latin America: from the colonial period to the emergence of transnational organized crime

This article examines the development of drug trafficking and organized crime in Latin America, from the pre-colonial peri-od to the legislative measures of the 20th century. The study is grounded in ethnobotanical data on the distribution of psy-choactive plants among the continent's peoples before the on-set of European colonization. It posits that colonial interven-tions not only facilitated the spread of plants containing nar-cotic substances but also laid the groundwork for the emer-gence of international drug trafficking, including its intercon-nection with global socio-economic transformations. Under-standing the historical context is crucial for analyzing contemporary issues of international crime and drug trafficking, as well as for developing effective resolution strategies. Thus, the article contributes to the theoretical foundation of international relations and global politics, expanding our comprehension of the influence of historical processes on contempo-rary global challenges.