A hardened criminal from the streets of Memphis. One of the biggest drug cartels in Mexico. The corruption, cash, and demand for drugs that fuels an illegal, deadly trade -- and the consequences, for Mexicans and Americans alike.
Part Two of "Blood Trade: Memphis and the Mexican Drug War"
Published July 4, 2010
This is the story of Craig Petties, who authorities say lived in Mexico for years and played a crucial role as wholesaler for the Beltran Leyva cartel, shipping tons of cocaine and marijuana to Tennessee and other states. Petties even used cell phones to arrange assassinations of rivals in Memphis, according to an indictment.
This is the second part of a two-part series.
Explore the full multimedia presentation at The Commercial Appeal.
The money that drug users spend in your community may be helping Mexican cartels pay their employees, bribe officials, buy weapons, and hire people to torture and kill rivals.
Daniel Connolly has received an honorable mention in the APME International Perspective contest for his Pulitzer Center-supported series "Blood Trade."
Grantee
Daniel Connolly is a staff reporter for The Commercial Appeal, the leading daily newspaper in Memphis.
A Memphis native, Connolly was a Fulbright fellow in Germany in 2001-2002 and completed...
