Merida Initiative Update: Mexico's Fight Against Organized Crime
Merida Initiative Update: Mexico's Fight Against Organized Crime
Drug-related violence continues to plague Mexico despite President Calderon’s efforts to stem the violence. Recent U.S. congressional approval of funding to help combat drug and gang violence is the first step in a larger multilateral assistance agreement.
Mexico’s Fight against Organized Crime
Organized crime has plagued Mexico for decades, but turf wars among rival drug gangs led to a notable surge in violence in 2006. The bloodshed was largely confined to gang members, but law enforcement officers and journalists were also targeted. The brazenness of the violence, which included public shootouts, and their grisly nature—victims were often tortured or even beheaded—left an indelible mark on the Mexican psyche.
When President Felipe Calderón took office, he prioritized fighting organized crime, immediately dispatching soldiers and federal police to key gang strongholds. Currently, about 30,000 Mexican troops are engaged in anti-drug trafficking activities, ranging from the eradication of crops and intelligence gathering to raids and seizures. This is not the first use of the army to combat drug traffickers in Mexico, but it is the largest in scale and scope.
The results are telling: record seizures of cocaine—57.3 tons last year—and cash—a stash of $206.5 million—as well as caches of illegal weapons, including grenades, assault rifles, and machine guns. But drug-related violence continues and homicides have increased. In 2007, a record 2,500 drug-related murders were reported, and this year, the number already stands at over 1,600. Of that, some 500 have been police officers, including Edgar Millán Gomez, number three in the federal police and one of the on-the-ground coordinators of President Calderón’s armed strategy.
Army operations may be the most visible component of the government’s strategy, but force is not the only tactic being used. Mexico has increased its extradition of drug kingpins to the United States. In June, Mexico agreed to hand over Benjamín Arellano Félix, a leader of the Tijuana-based Arellano Félix crime family. Last month, President Calderón signed into law historic changes to Mexico’s criminal justice system. These include the introduction of oral trials and the presumption of innocence. The role of state and local police was also expanded by the granting of authority to investigate organized crime, a function previously limited to the federal level.
Other elements of Mexico’s strategy include stemming money laundering and the smuggling of illegal weapons. The Mexican government is increasingly collaborating with the United States as part of its multi-pronged approach to combating organized crime.
U.S. Steps to Assist the Region
The narcotics and gang-related violence in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean is being addressed as part of the Merida Initiative—a multilateral agreement among the United States and regional partners to reduce violence. As defined by the Department of State, the Merida Initiative is a multi-year proposal to provide equipment and training. For the United States—the destination for 90 percent of cocaine trafficked through the region—this means providing increased assistance and supporting law enforcement operations. On June 30, President Bush signed into law $465 million of initial assistance for the Merida Initiative as part of an Iraq War supplemental funding bill.
Congressional approval of the Merida Initiative survived many bumps along the way. Originally, Members of Congress questioned the agreement when they were not involved in its formation despite numerous requests. Further complicating efforts, the U.S. Senate and House of Representative passed conflicting language, including provisions that differed in how funding could be distributed. However, the original legislation was scrapped and both chambers adopted corresponding bills after debate and compromise.
Despite these initial obstacles, Members of Congress have largely supported the initiative and its national security implications. Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Rep. Eliot Engel (NY), stated the need for such an agreement during debate: “The narco-violence in Mexico is not only undermining the safety and security of our friends to the South, but it is fueling the drug trade and violence here in the United States.” Regional leaders have welcomed the initiative and the increased U.S. role. Mexican President Felipe Calderón called it an important step in the fight against international organized crime.
Representative Engel along with Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan commented on the importance of the Merida Initiative during a Council of the Americas-hosted discussion on July 10. In addition to providing security assistance to Mexican law enforcement, the Initiative confronts lucrative components of the narcotics trade such as illicit arms trafficking and money laundering. In targeting these two criminal industries, the Mexican government will be better positioned to reassert authority and control in areas that continue to see high rates of transnational crime and violence.
For fiscal year 2009, an additional $450 million is being requested for Mexico and $100 million for Central America and the Caribbean.
