The article includes a detailed examination of the organizational structure of the Medellin cartel. The cartel's operations extend well beyond the production and transportation of cocaine; its political, social, and cultural activities extend its influence to persons, activities and organizations beyond those involved directly in the drug trade. In addition, the financial rewards of narcotics trafficking provide benefits to vast segments of Colombian society. The Cali cartel has learned from the mistakes of the Medellin cartel and is even more effective at putting drugs on American streets. The war on drugs has not led to a decrease in the number of cocaine users in the United States, and the volume of cocaine produced continues to rise in response to increased interdiction. A strategy of measuring success in the drug war simply by the number of kilos seized, cadres jailed, or jungle labs raided may lead to serious mistakes because it proceeds from failure to understand the nature and organization of the enemy. Notes