NCJ Number
226790
Date Published
June 2009
Length
77 pages
Annotation
This report presents the 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, consistent with the provisions of Section 1110 of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006.
Abstract
The strategy's goal is to substantially reduce the flow of illicit drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence across the Nation's Southwest border. There are six strategic objectives. One objective is to enhance intelligence capabilities associated with the Southwest border. A second objective is to interdict drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence at the ports of entry, between the ports of entry, and in the air and maritime domains along the Southwest border. A third objective is to ensure the prosecution of all significant drug trafficking, money laundering, bulk currency, and weapons smuggling/trafficking cases. Other objectives are to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations; enhance counterdrug technologies for drug detection and interdiction along the Southwest border; and enhance United States - Mexico cooperation in counterdrug efforts. One chapter describes efforts to improve intelligence and information-sharing, followed by two chapters that focus on efforts to prevent smuggling at and between the ports of entry. Chapter 4 addresses air and marine assets used in interdiction efforts, and chapter 5 discusses priority actions needed in supporting investigations and prosecutions. Chapter 6 addresses efforts to counter money laundering and bulk cash smuggling across the Southwest border, followed by a chapter that outlines steps for combating the illegal smuggling/trafficking of weapons from the United States into Mexico. Chapter 8 discusses technology needs required to advance efforts against narcotics smuggling. The concluding chpater links this strategy with the Nation's partnership with the Government of Mexico, building on existing cooperation and integrating efforts launched through the Merida Initiative. Appended strategy to end the construction and use of tunnels and subterranean passages that cross the international border between the United States and Mexico and an annotated listing of resources