Issued in June 2009 by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the reports lays out the U.S. government's strategic goal and objectives in attempting to reduce the flow of drugs, guns and laundered money across the border.
From the introduction:
As the President has stated, our response to the threats along the Southwest border will be an effort that the Administration will work on diligently in the months to come. This document, the 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, is part of that ongoing effort, and is guided by the following strategic goal and six strategic objectives:
Strategic Goal
Substantially reduce the flow of illicit drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence across the Southwest border.
Strategic Objectives
1. Enhance intelligence capabilities associated with the Southwest border.
2. Interdict drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence at the ports of entry, between the ports of entry, and in the air and maritime domains along the Southwest border.
3. Ensure the prosecution of all significant drug trafficking, money laundering, bulk currency, and weapons smuggling/trafficking cases.
4. Disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.
5. Enhance counterdrug technologies for drug detection and interdiction along the Southwest border.
6. Enhance U.S. – Mexico cooperation regarding joint counterdrug efforts.
The Strategic Goal and Strategic Objectives are repeated at the beginning of each thematic chapter. Each chapter consists of a background section and a list of supporting actions. Chapter 1 describes efforts to improve intelligence and information sharing. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on efforts to prevent smuggling at and between the ports of entry (POEs). Chapter 4 focuses on air and marine assets utilized in interdiction efforts. Chapter 5 discusses priority actions needed to support investigations and prosecutions. Chapter 6 concentrates on efforts to counter money laundering and bulk cash smuggling across the Southwest border. Chapter 7 outlines steps to combat the illegal smuggling/trafficking of weapons from the United States into Mexico. Chapter 8 advises on technology needs to advance efforts against narcotics smuggling. Chapter 9 links this strategy with our partnership with the Government of Mexico, building on ongoing cooperation and integrating efforts launched through the Merida Initiative.
To successfully implement this strategy, the United States must commit appropriate resources to efforts within the United States on the Southwest border. These efforts will serve to complement the courageous and dedicated counterdrug efforts of the Mexican government; to sustain recent disruptions in the drug market that have been detected through changes in price and purity; to protect U.S. border communities from drug related violence; and to disrupt the illegal flow of weapons and money south across the border.
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