The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy's strategy for managing the threat posed by Mexican organized crime along the Southwest border. The document sets out 10 objectives, with the overall goal being to "substantially reduce the flow of illicit drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence across the Southwest border."
An extract from the introduction:
The U.S. Government is responding to the range of threats along both sides of the Southwest border in several ways. President Obama signed the Southwest Border Security Bill on August 13, 2010, in response to immediate threats associated with a substantial increase in violence in Mexico, which resulted from pressure placed on the cartels by Mexican authorities and inter-cartel violence. This included $600 million in supplemental funds for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities. The President also separately authorized the temporary deployment of up to an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to the border to contribute additional capabilities and capacity to assist law enforcement agencies as a bridge to longer-term enhancements in the efforts to target illicit networks’ trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons, money, and the violence associated with these illegal activities.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working to better coordinate its intra-departmental efforts, and the Administration is monitoring the situation on the border to assess how additional law enforcement and border security resources are disrupting illicit activities. These efforts are supported by our continuing partnership with Mexico through the Mérida Initiative, a multi-year program led by the Department of State (DOS) which provides over $1.4 billion in assistance to Mexico to help address the threat posed to both our nations by transnational criminal organizations. Through the end of 2010, $361.8 million in equipment and training was delivered, with an additional $500 million planned for delivery by the end of 2011.
The list of objectives:
1. Enhance intelligence and information sharing capabilities and processes associated with the Southwest border
2. Interdict drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence at the ports of entry along the Southwest border
3. Interdict drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence between the ports of entry along the Southwest border
4. Interdict drugs, drug proceeds, and associated instruments of violence in the air and maritime domains along the Southwest border
5. Disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating along the Southwest border.
6. Stem the flow of illicit proceeds across the Southwest border into Mexico
7. Stem the flow of illegal weapons across the Southwest border into Mexico
8. Provide improved counterdrug technological capabilities and capacities for drug investigation and interdiction activities along the Southwest border
9. Develop strong and resilient communities that resist criminal activity and promote healthy lifestyles
10. Enhance U.S.-Mexico cooperation on joint counterdrug efforts
Read the full strategy here.
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