Observations on Counternarcotics Efforts in Mexico

• NCJ Number: 176125
• Author(s): B F Nelson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This is testimony before the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, House of Representatives, by the Director, International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division.

Abstract

Mexico is the primary transit country for cocaine entering the United States from South America, as well as a major source country for heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. Overall, US and Mexican interdiction efforts have had little, if any, impact on the overall flow of drugs through Mexico to the United States. The amount of cocaine seized and the number of drug-related arrests in Mexico have declined significantly since 1992. According to US officials, Mexican counternarcotics efforts are hampered by pervasive corruption of key institutions, economic and political problems and limited counternarcotics and law enforcement capabilities. Notes