|
Mexico City, March 1, 2007 – “In the last month, three cabinet-level U.S. officials have visited Mexico to stress their admiration of President Calderon’s demonstrated commitment to battling organized crime and narco-traffickers. The United States government today issued a report that both describes the threats posed by these illegal organizations around the world and underscores the successes the U.S. and Mexico have shared when confronting these threats together,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza, Jr.
In accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act, for decades the U.S. Congress has required the President of the United States to present to it the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) on the world’s major drug-transit or major illicit drug-producing countries. Congress also requires the President to identify in that report any countries that have “failed demonstrably . . . to make substantial efforts” during the previous 12 months to adhere to international counter-narcotics agreements and to take certain counter-narcotics measures set forth in U.S. law.
This year's report reviews the counter-narcotics situation in Mexico and over 120 other countries worldwide. The report identifies Mexico as a major importer of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics and a major money laundering center.
In 2005, the U.S. Congress passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA), which requires that the President report annually on the nature of world trade in the precursors to methamphetamine production. The first of these reports is due this year. In the report, the President must identify the largest exporters and importers of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, precursors to the manufacture of methamphetamines. Congress also asked the President to state the level of cooperation these principal importers and exporters are demonstrating in controlling the illicit trade and use of methamphetamine precursors.
In this year’s INCSR, the President noted that Mexico was the second largest importer in 2005 of pseudoephedrine, after the United Kingdom. The report also noted that Mexico is “fully cooperating” in the pursuit of the illicit trade of the chemicals used to make methamphetamines.
“The designations made by the INCSR are not necessarily a negative reflection of a government’s counter-narcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the United States, but are often the result of a combination of geographical, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to transit or be produced despite a government’s energetic enforcement measures,” said Ambassador Garza.
“This is most certainly the case with Mexico. The leadership, courage, and conviction demonstrated by both Presidents Fox and Calderon and hundreds of dedicated experts and law enforcement professionals in Mexico have made it possible to multiply our successful efforts against narco-traffickers on both sides of our border in recent years,” he added.
“For example, this year’s INCSR notes that our law enforcement agencies enjoy excellent levels of cooperation, particularly in sharing sensitive information on drug traffickers and coordinating interdiction efforts. Mexican authorities dismantled major drug trafficking organizations and extradited 63 fugitives to the United States in 2006. Also, in 2006, Mexico seized large amounts of illicit drugs, including over 21 tons of cocaine, 1,849 tons of marijuana, 600 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 400 kilograms of heroin. Mexican health officials also dramatically reduced the legal importation of methamphetamine precursors into Mexico,” continued the Ambassador.
“President Calderon has enunciated a clear vision of public security with many innovations in counter-narcotics and law enforcement, including the reform of the justice system, the creation of a unified federal police force under a single command, the establishment of a unified criminal information system, and the development of a regime that will combat drug addiction. This integrated approach is needed to fight the scourge of illicit drug trafficking,” said Ambassador Garza. “The United States recognizes the shared responsibility of both our nations in fighting drug-traffickers, the violence they bring to our communities, and drug addiction, and we look forward to continued cooperation and coordination with the Mexican government.”
For full text of the INCSR, please visit http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2007/.
|
