Beginnin in the late 1950s, Culiacán became the birthplace o a incipient unnerground economy based on illicit drogs exportit tae the Unitit States. The completion o the Pan-American Heich-gate an the regional airport in the 1960s acceleratit the expansion o a wirkable distribution infrastructur for the enterprisin few faimilies that wad later come tae dominate the internaitional drog cairtels alang Mexico's Paceefic Northwast.