A Cartel Reader for Democracies

A democracy's control of its monetary system is fundamental to its autonomy and freedom. Opacity of banking and corporate transactions, as well as opacity of organized crime communications, is a threat to democracy. The compromise of a state's security organs by organized crime is frightening. The compromise of a nation's military veterans and (potentially) contractors should make a democratic people tremble.

It appears that the subversion and de facto acquisition of our banks, security organs and military might be well underway.

The cartels should be reckoned into any discussion of Manning, Snowden and the NSA. 
One may appeal to the Constitution over the NSA; to whom may we appeal when cartels have acquired Snowden's documents and advanced capabilities in infosec and surveillance?

Sampling from my personal reader/collected links on relevant topics.
Updated 12/15/2014
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Obama Declares War on Global Organized Crime 2011
US Imposes Sanctions on Four International Criminal Groups
Executive Order
Japan: US Declares War on the Yakuza

McCain Petitions to Add Russian Group, with Kremlin Contacts, to List
Senator McCain Calls Upon President Obama to Apply Aggressive New Sanctions Designed to Combat Terrorism to the Russian Organized Crime Group Who Murdered Sergei Magnitsky

The Opacity of Takeovers and The Danger of Whistleblowing

Infiltrated Corporations
Olympus: A Rotten Picture at Olympus
State Oil Company Infiltrated in Mexico: Los Zetas called Mexico's most dangerous drug cartel.
(I'll welcome additional links. Explains NSA interest in Brazilian oil auctions? Very attractive to organized crime.)
Brazil: Brazil Police Op Uncovers Organized Crime-Politics Link


Infiltrated Banks
Wachovia: How a big US bank laundered billions from Mexico's murderous drug gangs
Wachovia and Others:    Wachovia's Drug Habit
Colombia: Western banks 'reaping billions from Colombian cocaine trade'
US and European Banks Hunger for Liquidity: American Narcos: The Real ‘Masters of Paradise’
If it waddles like a duck... The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia
*An attempt at Weaning? -- Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks $13 Billion Undisclosed to Congress
Global: Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor
Germany: The Case Gustl Mollath – The Time of the Hyenas A critical media research by Ursula Prem
(The researcher for the article above implicates journalists in the crime. Free press, or infiltrated, too?)
Germany: Court Releases Whistleblower from Psychiatric Ward
Russia: Shadow of Magnitsky Case Reaches Switzerland
Switzerland: Switzerland Awash with Money Laundering Cases  

Anonymous Discovers Cartel's IT Quotient, Unbound by Any Constitution (Cartel Promises to Acquire Increased IT Capacities)

Cartels aren't as limited as governments; they promise to find what governments can't.
(Note that they are ruthless about secrecy. Makes NSA a worthy target, Snowden a desirable acquisition?)
Anonymous Retreats from Mexican Drug Cartel Confrontation
Dispatch: Anonymous' Online Tactics Against Mexican Cartels

Cartels Making Good on Comms Capacities
More on Los Zetas Radio Network
"the kingpins stay off the network — they use the internet to send messages"
Radio Tecnico: How The Zetas Cartel Took Over Mexico With Walkie-Talkies (added 12/15/2014)

Facebook Hitman Highlights Organized Crime's Online Presence

Latin America and Caribbean Cyber-Security Trends and Government Responses (Trend Micro) (PDF)

Raises serious questions re: Ecuadorean interest in hosting Assange, Snowden
Mexican cartels move into Ecuador

Brazil Investigating Hack of Military Police Data
Cartels are keeping up, but "law enforcement and governments were failing to keep up with advancing technology."

Complexity: Persian Gulf is Growing Drug Hub for LatAm Groups


State Security Subverted

ATF
Evidence Suggests Cover-Up in ATF Scandal, as More Guns Appear at Crime Scenes

Border Patrol
Mexican hitman claims cartels bought guns from US Border Patrol
(06/12/2014) Removal of border agency’s internal affairs chief raises alarms
"members of drug cartels and gangs have been applying for jobs in the U.S. government “for the purpose of corrupting the system by passing along intelligence, sharing intelligence gaps, showing vulnerabilities.”"
(08/19/2014) Ousted chief accuses border agency of shooting cover-ups, corruption

Secret Service
Secret service agents sent home after Colombia prostitution allegations
Inspector General's Report Contradicts Secret Service on Prostitution Scandal

Secret Service Back Story
Secret Service Agents in Colombia are Eavesdropping on Suspected Counterfeiters
(I am looking for another link--I lost it--Secret Service wrapped up a joint counterfeiting bust in Colombia not long before Obama's visit. The prostitution scandal reads like a "shot across the bow," from that vantage point.) Reference: Europol 13 April 2012

Military Veterans
Cartels are Recruiting US Soldiers as Hitmen, and The Pay is Good
(01/10/2013) Team of contract killers led by ex-soldier 'Rambo' busted, prosecutors say (I predicted this several years ago; it was obvious--veterans returning to a non-existent job market and Zetas expanding. I hope my other prediction doesn't come true: cartels with enough liquidity to hire US military contractors, subvert their employees, or  hire teams of their unemployed workers. --Unfortunately, it's possible (probable?) that's already happened. (24/9/2013) See text, re: US contractor, blue box, on this page: NarcoPetro Dollars – Zetas Inside Pemex)

NSA?

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If a post can be dedicated, I'd dedicate this one to the friends of Gustl Mollath, who stood by him for so many years, and to those still working for justice for Sergei Magnitsky.