Tom Wainwright, author of “Narconomics” and the former Mexico City bureau chief for The Economist, talks about the weird economic reason behind the head-to-toe drug-cartel tattoos. He proposes that the full-body tattoos are a way of economically controlling the cartel members and preventing them from seeking other economic means of supporting themselves or their families. There are little to no options for a person covered from head to toe in tattoos outside of a gang or drug cartel.

Image courtesy of hellonearth blog