This course breaks down the major issues relating to the #1 criminal treat to the United States: the Mexican Cartels. Officers will leave this class with individual information on the most powerful groups operating throughout the U.S. and the World, their splinter groups, their tactics, the reasons for their growth, continuing power, and impunity. Students will gain an in depth understanding on the heavy emphasis on “Narco Cultura” (Mexican Drug Cartel Culture), including but not limited to: “Narco” fashions, symbolism, the difference between “Folk Saints” and “Patron Saints”, including Santa Muerte and Jesus Malverde, as well as detailed, extensive instruction on how some of these “Saints” could be used both as non-criminal and criminal behaviors.

Throughout this course, attendees will learn about the current trends of drug trafficking in the U.S. Galarza will teach about Anti-Bias Policing, Community Policing, Officer Safety, Marijuana issues, Reclassification of the Cartels into Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the “Plaza” system, the “King Pin Approach”, “El Culiacanazo”, the current Fentanyl crisis, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug trafficking, growth of Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generation (CJNG), China and the Cartels, US/Mexico Diplomatic Environment, and much more.