03 December 1999
(McCaffrey cites Mexican-U.S. partnership in drug war)(460) The director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Barry McCaffrey, has emphasized the brutality of drug trafficking rings in commenting on the discovery of suspected mass gravesites in Mexico. In a statement issued December 2, McCaffrey said, "The willingness of these criminal organizations to use violence and corruption is a threat to Mexican democratic institutions and law enforcement on both sides of the border." The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) November 29 joined Mexican authorities in a search of two sites near the border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where as many as 100 bodies of drug-gang victims are suspected to be buried. As of December 3, six bodies had been found. More than 60 FBI agents have joined the search, at the request of Mexican authorities. The discovery of the suspected gravesites comes after the unexplained disappearances of hundreds of citizens in the area over the last few years. Following is the text of the McCaffrey statement: (begin text) December 2, 1999 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR MCCAFFREY ISSUES STATEMENT ON DEVELOPMENTS IN JUAREZ, MEXICO (Washington, D.C.) Barry R. McCaffrey, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, today issued the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation of suspected mass gravesites in Mexico. "The reports of mass graves discovered in northern Mexico underscore the vulnerability of private citizens to the power of brutal drug trafficking organizations operating beyond the reach of the law. There have been scores of murders and attacks against law enforcement agents, other drug organizations, and innocent bystanders. The willingness of these criminal organizations to use violence and corruption is a threat to Mexican democratic institutions and law enforcement on both sides of the border. "U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the DEA and FBI, have been working closely with Mexican counterparts to recover remains, investigate drug-related disappearances and murders, and prosecute criminals. We appreciate Mexican Attorney General Jorge Madrazo's leadership and cooperation in this developing case." The U.S. and Mexico are cooperating on a broad array of anti-drug issues. The Juarez developments are a case in point: Mexico invited U.S. law enforcement, including the FBI, to assist in the investigation. Over the last few years Mexico has passed money laundering legislation, funded a comprehensive anti-drug legislative package, acted against precursor chemicals, conducted cooperative anti-drug operations with U.S. law enforcement, and acknowledged an increasing drug demand problem. We must and will work to enhance cooperation with Mexico to curtail the drug threat on both sides of the border. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)