Cattle Rustling and Ranching by Illegal Armed Groups and Organized Crime

Recent gains in the so-called international war on drugs have caused illegal armed groups, once dependent on drug production and trafficking for revenue, to diversify into new illegal activities. While drug trafficking remains a staple for guerrilla insurgents, paramilitaries, terrorist organizations, and transborder criminal organizations, cattle rustling and illegal ranching are becoming increasingly lucrative and law enforcement is hard pressed to fight it.  One may think that cattle rustling is a local problem, but the potential adverse impact on regional and international markets is significant. It becomes a regional security issue when transnational criminal organizations and terrorist organizations are using cattle rustling to fund operations and generate wealth.