Exactly. I was reading this book that investigates organized crime (called McMafia -the information in the book was a revelation!), and they had some figures from the UK government that showed that drug trafficking is one of the most profitable businesses in the globe. The profit margins are higher than those for the luxury industry. With demand increasing in the user countries, the supply going strong in the producer countries, and better more efficient production and transportation (even in the face of the 'war on drugs') leading to better quality drugs and lower prices ....coupled with the fact that law enforcement is PERFECT at catching the 'hombre' or the 'brotha' peddling small stuff at the corner, but totally useless at getting the REAL drug lords ....then this is a business that will keep growing. It is so funny that if you check jails they are filled with so many drug peddlars, and the local PDs have all these nice quotas showing their 'effectiveness,' yet the drug trade just continues to grow (both in terms of nominal size, as well as absolute profitability). The truth is that catching 'small fry' is good, but unless the larger fish are caught then the PDs should know that replacing the small fry is so easy it happens under a day!
However, it is obviously so much easier to catch a saggy-pant wearing oaf with a fannypack of weed than it is to tackle the major importer groups. Or catching a semi-submersible or two (and imagine all the great photo opportunities that brings!) than it is to stop the cartels. It is so much safer to catch the Mexicans selling 'black tar' dirty useless heroin than to tackle the large Miami and LA Mafiya (Russian Mafia) organizations bringing in high-grade heroin.