By Allan Lengelticklethewire.com
A just-released Senate report on Mexico drug trafficking urges judicial and police reforms in Mexico and calls for the Obama Administration to provide more resources to its southern neighbor and to do more to starve Mexico’s drug trafficking organizations of the money that fuels them.
The report, issued by The U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, also recommends that the Obama Administration take immediate steps to make pre-paid gift and credit cards – known as stored value – subject to cross-border reporting requirements.
The cards are currently not subject to any cross-border reporting requirements, which allows dirty money to cross the border unchecked.
The report also urges the State Department to expedite the delivery of resources and develop performance measures for delivering equipment and implementing judicial and police reform.
The U.S. government has provided Mexico with 11 helicopters – eight Bell 412 helicopters for the Mexican military and three Blackhawk helicopters for the country’s federal police. Six more Blackhawk helicopters are still in the pipeline, authorities said.
“The United States provides counternarcotics assistance throughout the world,” the report said. “But, our security partnership with Mexico is unique. We share a 1,969 mile border. What happens in Mexico has a deep impact on the United States and the reciprocal is also true.
“The Mexican government must continue to combat its country’s violent drug trafficking organizations and curb the supply of illicit drugs flowing into our country. It also must take action to better secure its northern border as well as its southern border with Central America to prevent illegal narcotics, weapons, and illicit proceeds from entering the country.
“At the same time, the U.S. must take action to better counter the southbound traffic of money and firearms that fuel the drug trafficking organizations, while also working to reduce our country’s massive demand for illegal narcotics.”
The Senate caucus is co-chaired by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Ia.).
To read full report click here.
