Topic: Police Corruption

A book review in Harper's Magazine of "Drug Cartels Do Not Exist" by Oswaldo Zavala challenges the conventional narrative of organized crime in Mexico. Zavala argues that the entities commonly referred to as cartels are actually extensions of the police and political establishment. This perspective suggests that the "war on drugs" is a manufactured framework that masks state-sponsored violence and systemic government corruption.

The whistleblower experience revealed a symbiotic relationship between Marineland and provincial/municipal government agencies, including the OSPCA. Demers describes being targeted by police harassment, including visits from a cybercrimes unit after he retweeted a joke by comedian Kenny Hotz. He alleges that the park has local authorities on "speed dial" to intimidate critics and suppress dissent.

Mexican police interactions are compared favorably to the American legal system, suggesting that small bribes are preferable to being "caged" in the U.S. for victimless crimes. While all drugs are technically legal or tolerated in parts of Mexico, the U.S. is criticized for aggressive policing of public intoxication and minor infractions. An anecdote about a friend's "torture-like" experience in a Las Vegas jail illustrates the perceived dangers of the American system.