Narco-state (Noun)
Meaning
An area that has been taken over and is controlled and corrupted by drug cartels and where law enforcement is effectively nonexistent; "this Mexican town has become a narco-state that ships 100 pounds of cocaine to the United States every day".
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The city on the border was essentially a narco-state, controlled by the powerful cartel that had infiltrated every level of local government.
- Years of corruption and violence had turned the region into a narco-state, where the rule of law was merely a distant memory.
- Critics argue that the country is sliding towards becoming a narco-state, as the influence of drug traffickers grows and the government's authority weakens.
- The town's descent into a narco-state began when the cartel leader moved in and started bribing local officials to turn a blind eye to their operations.
- Journalists who investigate the cartel's activities in the narco-state face severe threats and intimidation, making it nearly impossible to get an accurate picture of the situation.