Narco States And The West's Blood Guilt?

Do Drugs and the money they create, corrupt a society to the point that it becomes a Narco State?

I ask because the news from Mexico's drug war is getting increasingly bad ..... a mass grave discovered in Mexico, contained the bodies of 18 kidnapped tourists. 

A $ign Of The Times

Forbes Magazine the chronicler of the rich and famous has taken to including drug barons in its annual list of the worlds richest people.

Such luminaries of the criminal world as the Mexican 'giant' Joaquin Guzman (estimated fortune of $1bn (£722m) or Columbia's late but still great Pablo Escobar (personal wealth of close to $25 billion when he was killed) have appeared in its lists in recent years, and one can't help wondering if Japans Yakuza, or the Russian, Georgian, American or Italian Mafia's don't feel the need to compete?

Whilst this listing may be 'honest', is pandering to Mexican and Colombian 'drug' criminals merely one step from outright public acknowledgement and acceptance?