NCJ Number
180290
Date Published
March 1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This statement to a Congressional subcommittee focuses on drug control efforts with respect Mexico's efforts in addressing the drug business and drug trafficking and the status of counternarcotics assistance provided by the United States to Mexico.
Abstract
Drugs from Mexico represent a significant threat to the United States. Mexico is one of the world's largest centers for the narcotics-related drug business and is still the main transit country for cocaine entering the United States. Its porous border and the high volume of legitimate cross-border traffic provides almost unlimited opportunities for smuggling drugs and the proceeds of drug sales. Mexico took some high-profile drug law enforcement actions in 1998. However, major challenges remain. Mexico has not yet fully implemented new laws to address organized crime, money laundering, and the diversion of chemicals used in drug manufacture. The heroin threat from Mexico appears to be increasing. Nevertheless, the Mexican government's counternarcotics activities have had some success and the government has proposed or undertaken some new initiatives. A major impediment to United States and Mexican counternarcotics objectives is Mexican government corruption, including corruption in the criminal justice system. The Mexican President has undertaken initiatives to address corruption. In addition, the United States Departments of State and Defense have provided the Mexican government with more than $112 million worth of equipment, training, and aviation spare parts for counternarcotics purposes since 1997. However, some of the assistance provided to the Mexican military has been of limited usefulness due to operational and logistical support problems. Footnotes, figures, and table