From Smugglers to Warlords: Twentieth Century Colombian Drug Traffickers‪.‬

Abstract. This article analyzes the characteristics and pursuits of various criminal organizations that, from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present, have been the principal organizations responsible for drug trafficking in Colombia. This work studies the features that mark the small groups of criminals who initiated and consolidated drug trafficking in the first six decades of the last century, to the organizations responsible for the boom of the 1970s, to the huge drug cartels that led the business in the 1980s to the first half of the 1990s, and the traquetos that directed the illegal traffic in drugs in Colombia from that point on. In addition, it analyzes the consequences that these organizations have had in Colombian political life, the responses of the State to confront these organizations, and the effects that these criminal groups have had on the levels and characteristics of the violence that has afflicted this Andean country. Resume. Cet article analyse les caracteristiques et la portee des diverses organisations criminelles qui, depuis le debut du XXe siecle, ont eteles principales responsables du trafic de drogue en Colombie. Cet ouvrage se penche sur les caracteristiques des petits groupes criminels qui initierent et consoliderent le trafic de drogue lors des six premieres decennies du siecle passe, des organisations responsables de la bonanza des annees mille neuf cent soixante-dix, des cartels de drogue qui menerent les affaires durant les annees mille neuf cent quatre-vingt et la premiere moitie des annees mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix, ainsi que des traquetos qui, depuis, dirigent le trafic de drogue en Colombie. De plus, on y analyse les consequences que ces organisations ont eues sur la vie politique colombienne, les mesures que l'Etat a pris pour faire face a chacune d'elles et les effets que ces groupes criminels ont eus sur le niveau et la nature de la violence qui afflige ce pays andin.