10 November 1999
(Progress reported in several key areas) (1270) U.S. and Mexican drug control officials agree that their bilateral cooperation is meeting with success in key areas such as fugitive arrests, money laundering investigations, and firearms tracking. "The number of fugitives arrested and surrendered has steadily increased in the past five years as a result of improved communication and cooperation between the two governments," the U.S./Mexico High Level Contact Group (HLCG) said in a final communique following its November 9-10 meetings in Washington. The officials also reported that the United States and Mexico have improved procedures for tracing firearms and have launched 16 simultaneous money-laundering investigations. Moreover, bilateral cooperation has resulted in "record seizures of cocaine during 1999," the HLCG said. Following is the text of the communique: (begin text) Final Communiqué 7th Meeting of the U.S./Mexico High Level Contact Group for Drug Control Washington, D.C. November 10, 1999 The U.S./Mexico High Level Contact Group for Drug Control (HLCG) met in Washington D.C. November 9 and 10, 1999. The members heard reports on implementation of the U.S./Mexico Bi-National Drug Strategy (the Strategy). Progress was measured in terms of the performance measures of effectiveness agreed to in Merida, Mexico, in February, 1999. In the first eighteen months since the adoption of the Strategy in February 1998, national actions and bi-national actions were consistent with the Strategy and advanced its objectives. Many objectives were fully or substantially achieved. Other parts of the Strategy and Performance Measures of Effectiveness must be modified after the experience of the first eighteen months. The HLCG instructed the Technical Group to produce a recommendation. Both governments decided to develop an "Agenda 2000" in order to focus their bilateral counter-drug efforts over the next fourteen months. With regard to extradition, the HLCG recognized that the number of fugitives arrested and surrendered has steadily increased in the past five years, as a result of improved communication and cooperation between the two governments. The HLCG directed the appropriate officials of both nations to streamline existing procedures. For this purpose, they shall produce a list of active pending cases. With regard to interdiction, the HLCG especially complimented the achievements of the Mexican Navy and the PGR, with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard and DEA in law enforcement actions that resulted in record seizures of cocaine during 1999. The HLCG Principals particularly recognized the following accomplishments: Demand Reduction: The second Bi-National Drug Demand Reduction Conference held in Tijuana in June 1999 brought together nearly 400 U.S. and Mexican specialists. In addition to defining priority areas for future cooperation, participants were trained in program evaluation, needs assessments, funding, border collaboration, and prevention of violence and substance abuse. Mexico developed three drug education media campaigns, and the U.S. and Mexico have jointly developed and adapted a Spanish-language kit for Drug-Free Workplaces. A follow-on conference is scheduled for April 2000 in Tuscon, Arizona. Money Laundering: The U.S. and Mexican Treasury Departments initiated 16 simultaneous investigations pursuant to the Financial Information Exchange Agreement (FIEA), 9 were proposed by Mexico and 7 by the U.S. The Office of Mexican Attorney General (PGR) and the U.S. Justice Department initiated four coordinated investigations pursuant to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). Both governments are more fully sharing information, including Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). The U.S. provided Mexico with a comparative analysis of U.S. outbound Currency and Monetary Instrument Reports (CMIRs) and inbound CMIRs to Mexico. That comparison should facilitate identification of U.S. and Mexican ports with the highest rates of inbound and outbound currency transportation. Also in connection with currency tracing, negotiators completed in principle the elements of a Memorandum of Understanding for the exchange of information on transportation of currency and monetary instruments in accordance with respective national laws. Mexico participated as an observer in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) XII Plenary meeting in Oporto, Portugal. Mexico expressed its commitment to become a full member and undergo a mutual evaluation. Firearms The procedure for tracing firearms improved greatly. After both countries implemented new procedures and training was made available. ATF improved its ability to complete a trace based on information provided. It was able to complete 1,344 of 1,948 trace requests. There was positive tracing information available in 700 of those cases. U.S. replies to Mexican requests were timely, and in urgent cases an answer was provided in 24 hours. U.S. and Mexican experts met frequently and determined that about one quarter of weapons confiscated in Mexico are linked to drug crimes. Precursor and Essential Chemical Control In a regional initiative, the U.S. and Mexico cooperated in an effort to update and revise model OAS/CICAD regulations on chemical control. More concretely, secure communications equipment was purchased, and a secure link is being established between DEA and FEADS. The U.S. and Mexico are engaged in negotiation of a bilateral chemical control memorandum of understanding (MOU). Senior Law Enforcement Plenary (SLEP) U.S. and Mexican law enforcement experts agreed to conduct a realistic bilateral assessment of the Base Intelligence Units (formerly known as the Bilateral Task Forces) and report with a recommendation for future action to the SLEP and the HLCG. The extradition task force formed at the last HLCG Plenary in Mexico has nearly completed its review of all outstanding extradition requests so as to identify the priority cases pending in each country. A similar review with respect to request for assistance submitted under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty will be initiated, with the reviewers reporting to the SLEP and the HLCG. U.S. drafters completed and submitted to Mexico an initial text of an asset forfeiture cooperation and reciprocal sharing agreement for submission to the government of Mexico. Eradication Both governments agreed to continue their information exchange and analysis of statistics methodology on eradication. In 1999 Mexico reinforced and improved the planning and implementation of operations against domestic illicit crops. Improvements included crop location, and manual and aerial eradication. For this purpose Mexico acquired 73 light aircraft for reconnaissance operations and 24 helicopters for aerial fumigation. Interdiction Mexico has carried out several operations to secure its north and south borders as well as special operations in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, by means of multifaceted control posts, use of mobile search equipment, and land, aerial, riverine, amphibious and maritime patrol. These actions have contributed to the diversion of drugs from established international trafficking routes. Exchange of operational and technical information with the U.S. authorities has contributed to enhanced enforcement. Criminal Organizations Both governments reported on coordinated activities carried out against criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking in both countries. The governments stressed that bilateral cooperation renders the best results against criminal organizations, as in the case of Operation Millennium, among others. Training Both governments reviewed the training courses currently underway and agreed that more specialized courses are needed in specific areas, such as firearms. International Cooperation Fora Both delegations commented on the adoption of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) developed by OAS/CICAD, and reiterated their support for the success of this multilateral system, as an objective and credible system of governments appraising the efforts of other governments in the region against drug trafficking. Mexico's National Program for Public Safety The Mexican government reported that Mexico's National Program for Public Safety has been consolidated. A major component of the Program was the establishment last January of the Federal Preventive Police, which has carried out several rigorous recruiting and selection activities. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)