Press Releases 08
We’ll Hit’em Where it Hurts - In the Pocket
Statement
by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, June 12, 2008 – “Assistant Secretary of Homeland
Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie Myers
met with Administrator General of Mexican Customs Juan Jose
Bravo in Mexico City today to launch a new Trade Transparency
Unit (TTU), a cooperative and bilateral operation.
“This Trade Transparency Unit, which will be operated by
Mexican Customs, will help track patterns of cross-border
trade that indicate money laundering. Successful investigations
by other TTU’s operating in this hemisphere have helped shut
down criminal organizations engaged in smuggling drugs, weapons,
and human trafficking.
“Money laundering provides the life-blood for criminal organizations,
allowing them to create a legitimate façade and fund their
day to day activities. TTU’s allow us to cut off the oxygen
to these operations, and expose the sources of their ill-gotten
gains.
“The Trade Transparency Unit is another example of the many
cooperative programs where Mexican authorities are adopting
the same successful strategies that are increasing pressure
on criminal organizations throughout Latin America and the
Caribbean.
“I congratulate AG Bravo and the hard-working officials at
Mexican Customs, along with Assistant Secretary Myers and
the U.S. government interagency team, who are at the forefront
of this crucial new initiative in Mexico. Only by working
together will we succeed in our fight against cross-border
crime.” |
