The growth of violence in the drug markets

The case of Uruguay (2012-2019)

Abstract

 he year 2018 was a particularly violent year in Uruguay, reaching an unprecedented figure of
11.8 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Nearly half of these homicides (47%) were linked to the criminal conflict and it is presumed that a considerable part of these is linked to the drug market. This study aimed to identify endogenous and exogenous factors to the market that affect the levels of violence between groups linked to the distribution of drugs. The study provides a look at drug markets as a complex integration system, in which the actions of one actor have repercussions on all interactions in the system.