Drug Control

The Mexican government's counternarcotics activities in 1998 have not been without positive results. One of its major accomplishments was the arrest of two major drug traffickers. The Mexican foreign minister has approved the extradition of one of the traffickers to the United States, but he has appealed the decision. In addition, it conducted a major operation in Cancun, where four hotels and other large properties allegedly belonging to drug traffickers were seized. Mexico also implemented its currency and suspicious reporting requirements. In addition, the Mexican government has proposed or undertaken several new initiatives. For example, it has begun an initiative to prevent illegal drugs from entering Mexico and announced a new counternarcotics strategy and the creation of a national police force. One of the major impediments to U.S. and Mexican counternarcotics objectives is Mexican government corruption. According to one U.S. estimate, Mexican narcotics traffickers spend as much as $6 billion a year to suborn government officials at all levels. Since 1997, the Departments of State and Defense have provided the government of Mexico with more than $92 million worth of equipment, training, and aviation spare parts for counternarcotics purposes. Last year, GAO testified that some of the assistance provided to Mexico was of limited usefulness because of operational and logistical support problems. Unfortunately, the situation with the UH-1H helicopters has worsened. Since March 1998, all of these helicopters provided to the Mexican military have been grounded because of airworthiness concerns. In addition, four C-26 aircraft are not being used for counternarcotics operations.

GAO noted that: (1) while some high-profile law enforcement actions were taken in 1998, major challenges remain; (2) new laws passed to address organized crime, money laundering, and the diversion of chemicals used in narcotics manufacturing have not been fully implemented; (3) moreover, during 1998, opium poppy eradication and drug seizures remained at about the same level as in 1995; (4) in addition, no major Mexican drug trafficker was surrendered to the United States on drug charges; (5) Mexican government counternarcotics activities in 1998 have not been without positive results; (6) one of its major accomplishments was the arrest of two major drug traffickers commonly known as the Kings of Methamphetamine; (7) although all drug-related charges against the two have been dropped, both are still in jail and being held on extradition warrants; (8) the Mexican foreign ministry has approved the extradition of one of the traffickers to the United States, but he has appealed the decision; (9) in addition, during 1998 the Organized Crime Unit of the Attorney General's Office conducted a major operation in the Cancun area where four hotels and other large properties allegedly belonging to drug traffickers associated with the Juarez trafficking organization were seized; (10) Mexico also implemented its currency and suspicious reporting requirements; (11) the Mexican government has proposed or undertaken a number of new initiatives; (12) it has initiated an effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering Mexico, announced a new counternarcotics strategy and the creation of a national police force; (13) one of the major impediments to U.S. and Mexican counternarcotics objectives is Mexican government corruption; (14) recognizing the impact of corruption on law enforcement agencies, the President of Mexico: (a) expanded the role of the military in counternarcotics activities; and (b) introduced a screening process for personnel working in certain law enforcement activities; (15) since these initiatives, a number of senior military and screened personnel were found to be either involved in or suspected of drug-related activities; (16) since 1997, the Departments of State and Defense have provided Mexico with over $92 million worth of equipment, training, and aviation spare parts for counternarcotics purposes; and (17) the major assistance included UH-1H helicopters, C-26 aircraft, and two Knox-class frigates purchased by the government of Mexico through the foreign military sales program.