Colombian cartels have spent billions of dollars to build one of the world's most sophisticated IT infrastructures. It's helping them smuggle more dope than ever before. ... High-tech has become the drug lords' most effective counter-weapon in the war on drugs -- and is a major reason that cocaine shipments to the United States from Colombia hit an estimated 450 tons last year, almost twice the level of 1998. ... "If they want it, they buy it." ... Recently, the cartels have built their own submarines. ... The mainframe was loaded with custom-written data-mining software. ... Cartel leaders have sent members of their own families to top US schools. The talent and tools are among the best that money can buy. I've discussed this issue before, and here is a recent article that explains why keeping certain research results out of _Science_ and _Nature_ is not a very effective defense strategy. If the cartels can spend billions on IT, they can surely do a little biotech on the side. They can use the results to improve their products, and they can also license the technology to others who may lack the necessary research infrastructure. The Technology Secrets of Cocaine Inc. | Business 2.0 | 
