Illicit trade has long been a central feature of Latin America’s engagement in the world. In this chapter we first briefly sketch the scope and dimensions of illicit trade in the region, and stress the importance of various types of power asymmetries. Drawing on illustrations primarily from...

The proliferation of illicit cross-border flows in the Americas — ranging from unauthorized migrant workers and psychoactive substances to arms and dirty money — is often portrayed as an alarming and unprecedented challenge to borders and government authority in the region. At first glance,...