New Counternarcotics Strategy to Derail Drug Cartels

CARTEL ARRESTS: Ruben Granados (C) aka El Nene and two other members from drug cartel Beltran Leyva brothers are presented to the press at the General Attorney's office in Mexico City on April 14, 2009. Violence linked to the cartels claimed more than 5,3 (Fernan Castillo/AFP/Getty Images)

In an effort to stamp out the violent drug cartels that have ravaged Mexico’s border towns for the past several years, the Obama administration introduced a new national strategy to reduce drug and arms trafficking on June 5.

In a recent report, the U.S. Department of Justice called the Mexican drug cartels the largest organized crime threat to the United States.

“Drug trafficking cartels spread violence and lawlessness throughout our border region and reach into all of our communities, large and small,” said Attorney General Holder in a press release.

More than 2,300 people have been killed this year as the cartels battle for territory. Kidnappings and spill-over violence into the United States have become a prime concern in most U.S. border towns as the drug-war rages on—making new strategies to thwart the violence in high demand.

The new National Soutwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy aims to fill that demand. It will help bridge the communication gap between federal agencies and local police in stopping the flow of weapons and bulk currency across the Mexican Border.

The strategy will also bring collaboration between the U.S. and Mexican governments in the war against the cartels.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the counternarcotics strategy will “play a critical role in our efforts to stop cross-border drug trafficking and violence.”

Among the objectives will be to ensure the prosecution of individuals involved in any large drug trafficking, money laundering, bulk currency, or weapons smuggling. It will also amp up the collection of intelligence on the cartels and enhance technologies to detect smugglers along the borders.

Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske said that the strategy will make new headway on the drug threat, adding that “at the same time, we are renewing our commitment to reduce the demand for drugs in the United States, which will support this effort.”