I think the opium warlords in Afghanistan are more comparable to the Colombian FARC in which they are a paramilitary group first and drug traffickes last both seek legitimate political platform or want to legitimaitze themselves as the political powers of the country they are occupying and their modus operndi are very different. The FARC for example occupy the jungles and mountains of Colombia with an army of 10,000 soldiers but they operate freely in the outskirts of Colombia where there is no permenant presence of the authority or state. They are completely cut off from the Colombian society and aren't part of the social fabric and established within the social fabric of Colombia like the cartels are. The cartels operate within the state and are part of the social fabric of Mexico or Colombia or are well established within the country, in some cities or towns more so than others. The cartels have deeply penetrated the government and public institutions and use their influence against their enemies or for them but still remain a seperte identity from that of the government. They stay out of politics but will intervene if someone unwarranted that is a possible threat to them is placed or running for major and sometimes even governor. The cartels have legitimate companies to launder their money and the drug money economy is deeply embedded within the legal economy. So it's really hard for the government to root out their assets. etc.