From WolfWikis

[US Responses to Drug Trafficking]

Introduction

This wiki includes a brief overview of Mexican drug enforcement policies and actions from the early 1900s until present day. The drug policies in the 19th century were originally formed to combat the growing opium craze and to prevent importation into and exportation out of Mexico. Programs such as Operation Condor ( not associated with the Operation Condor in Chile), Operation Alliance and Operation Intercept have played an important role in influencing the policies that are being written today. Presently drugs such as marijuana, heroin, methamphetamines, and cocaine are considered to be the forces which must be dealt with. Another present day concern are the cartels and their use of POE's ( Port of Entries)."Mexican drug cartels now operate in almost every region in the US and bring in about 23 million in revenue." Combined, Mexican drug cartels generate more revenue than " at least 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies" which is more revenue than powerful corporations such as Merck and Halliburton.^[1] There are also many problems with border control therefore United States homeland security is establishing programs such as the Customs and Trade Partners against terrorism. A current policy in the making is Plan Mexico (The Merida Initiative) which is currently causing much debate and fear that this program is nothing more than the reincarnation of Plan Colombia.

Policies of the early 1900's

The first efforts to repress the drug trade in the 1900s were made in hopes to combat the growing demand for and use of opium. The major supplier of opium had originally been China and Turkey, however, as the early 20th century progressed Mexico became known as an significant contributor to the sale and distribution of opium. International drug control efforts within Mexico date from 1909 at the Shanghai convention and The Hague Opium Convention of 1911-1912. Mexico was a signatory and they agreed to "impose controls over licit opium to prevent its clandestine export." ^[2] In 1916 the Mexican revolutionary government prohibited opium importation. They did so in an attempt to stop U.S drug dealers as well as US law enforcement officers from unlawfully crossing the border into Mexican territory.^[3] President Calles played a large part in the early 1900s drug policy implementation in Mexico. In 1925 President Calles made a "decision to order judicial authorities to take stronger action against opium, heroin, and cocaine dealers" and to also negotiate with the United States and create and anti smuggling treaty. In 1927 Calles signed a decree banning the export of certain drugs, such as; heroin, and marijuana. Calles also revised the Mexican penal code and established more stringent policies.^[3]

The first eradication campaign in Mexico was named La Gran Campaña.The campaign was announced in 1948. The Mexican army reported in 1949 that La Gran Campaña "covered as many as 10,968 kilometers stopping in more than 1000 pueblos, rancherias and destroying over 600 fields." ^[3] Before the 1960's ,any drug growers had learned to outsmart officials. It was not uncommon for the military to show up to drug fields and the drug fields had already been set on fire by their growers who had already gone into hiding. The eradication effort along with many other antinarcotics campaigns forced the growers and cartels to become smarter. After 1962 the Mexican military acquired necessary equipment, which would enable them to more easily locate and eradicate the fields. Following the acquisition of 500000 in aircraft, helicopters, weapons from the US The Mexican military were able to more effectively destroy the drug fields.^[2]

Operation Intercept, Operation Condor and Operation Alliance

Operation Intercept was the “nations largest peacetime search and seizure operation by civil authorities.” The unilateral offensive was designed ostensibly to halt the flow of marijuana into the United States in "one massive maneuver." According to the United States Department of State, in the long run Intercept did succeed in “bringing the Mexicans around.” However, in the short run the effects were much more detrimental. It has came to be regarded as a major diplomatic incident. It was then replaced as the same year in October 11th by operation cooperation, which was considered to be a more holistic and comprehensive approach. To critics operation cooperation was nothing more than "a face saving, binational arrangement, whose remnants are evident still today." Despite its negative impact, Intercept spawned several positive developments. For example Under its successor Operation Cooperation, the binational anti drug effort between Mexico and the United States has improved annually since 1985.^[4] To avenge the murder of Camarena ( A DEA agent) DEA launched Operation Intercept II and Operation Leyenda. These programs exemplified Mexico’s vulnerability in the realm if the anti drug law vis a vis its powerful neighbor…focused on joint enforcement and intelligence operations.^[3] Shortly after the implementation of Operation Alliance ( at this time Operation cooperation) a DEA agent was brutally murdered. Camarena was a DEA agent who had made many positive changes before his death. To avenge the murder of Camarena DEA launched Operation Intercept II and Operation Leyenda. These programs were regarded as nothing more than a revised Operation Cooperation with an addition in the areas of joint enforcement and intelligence operations. Joint Enforcement was referencing US and Mexican cooperation to combat the “war on drugs" in Mexico, this so called cooperation continues to impact drug policies to this day. The programs, however, illustrated that Mexico as still vulnerable to US policies and the DEA was a force that had to be reckoned with. "These programs exemplified Mexico’s vulnerability in the realm if the anti drug law vis a vis its powerful neighbor." ^[3]

Operation Condor was formed specifically to target marijuana and heroin. It was considered to be the most successful campaign against drug trafficking developed by Mexico. The government of Mexico was especially interested in this program because they felt as if they were being threatened by the connections drug traffickers were making with people on the other side of the border. Drug trafficking posed “a threat to control by the government and the all- pervasive PRI over the entire country from Tiajuana to Merdia.^[5] During Operation Condor eradication was used to destroy a mass number of plants. This time instead of burning the fields ( as in La Gran Campaña) the government decided to eradicate opium and marijuana fields with herbicides.. They government tried to convince the general population of Meixco that herbicides posed no threat to folk and fauna it was considered to be a frontal assault against drug cultivation , manufacture and trafficking was seen as clearly being in Mexico’s own national interest.^[6] In reality Operation Condor is said to have had a cartelization effect in which the weaker and smaller cartels were destroyed and the most powerful and organized cartels ended up prospering from the loss of business from the other cartels and gaining revenue for their own.^[3]

A More In Depth Look At Operation Condor

The United States government initiated Operation Alliance in 1986. In short, Alliance evolved as a coordinated effort between fifteen agencies and four state and local agencies. It was composed of a joint command group from the states that border the Mexican boarder; Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. The main source for intelligence information during Operation Alliance was the DEA’s El Paso Intelligence Center commonly referred to as EPIC located in El Paso, Texas. There were many problems with the Alliance. First and foremost the Alliance became a much more unilateral project (The United States was left with most of the responsibility) after it became noticeable that Mexico was struggling to coordinate their own policy and were not willing to participate in group efforts. While most of the responsibility ended up being placed in the hands of the United States, the initial level of cooperation was quite impressive. Jorge Chabot, a Latin American author explained that this was important because “ they have managed to dissolve some of the animosity and competitiveness for the greater goal of controlling narcotics trafficking and the violence that results from it”.^[5]

Salinas Improvement Program

“Since the inauguration of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari in 1988, Mexican Drug control efforts have improved significantly. His leadership has ushered in a period of closer cooperation between Mexico and the United States." ^[5] The Salinas administration created a new government post; the assistant attorney general for the investigation and combat of drug trafficking. The Salinas improvement program also “doubled the budget of the attorney generals office between 1989 and 1989.” There was also an increase in the drug enforcement task force within Mexico. Between 1200 and 1500 new agents were hired during the Salinas administration. This specific policy sought to focus on immobilizing trafficking organizations which were becoming more and more prominent in the late 20th century.^[3] While the Salinas alliance did bring about much positive change there was still much corruption within the government system, even Carlos himself, and the prosecution of drugs." "During the Salinas administration the drug traffickers infiltrated the highest level of government and were thought to be responsible for high level assassinations." There was even corruption within Salinas’s family during his time in office. During his time in office Carlos own brother Raul Salinas pocketed more than 84 million. Carlos is currently living in exile in Ireland, he is greatly disliked in Mexico where he is believed to have aid in the rise of the drug trade.^[7]

PBS Documentary on the Salinas Family Tree

Plan México (Plan Merida)

President George W. Bush in October 2007 requested $500m from Congress to help Mexico " fight organized crime." The two year plan, which is a bilateral agreement, is to be known as the "Merida Initiative." Bush does not want it to be called Plan Mexico because he thinks that it will remind people of the controversial Plan Colombia. Andrew Seele, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Institute explains that “the idea of comparing this package with Plan Colombia generates resistance in both countries." If the plan is approved it will be used to help pay for intelligence and training efforts as well as necessary equipment for raids and eradication such as helicopters and boats. The main concern is that there would be an increase military presence in Mexico. However Under Secretary of State for Latin America, Thomas Shannon stressed " there would not be an increase of our presence in Mexico." ^[8] Senator Robert Menendez from New Jersey states his concerns, that him and many other senators and government officials by saying “With Plan Mexico’, the devil will be in the details, and to this point, details are scarce. I am eager to see if this is strictly an enforcement plan or if it is a more comprehensive plan that includes the type of economic development that helps cut down the drug trade at its roots. We learned with ‘Plan Colombia’ that a program focused only on enforcement tactics ultimately may not bring the same success as a broader strategy of enforcement, empowerment and development." He explained that “By announcing a funding request without consulting Congress much on the specifics of their plan, the Bush administration continues a pattern of disengagement from the Congress a pattern that is not constructive for getting things done. Dropping a $1.4 billion plan on our doorstep without much forewarning makes it harder to build a consensus and to develop sound policy.” ^[9] James Jones, past ambassador to Mexico from 1993 to 1997 explained that the "plan would disrupt the operations of Mexican drug traffickers and criminal organizations and provide considerably more security at the border for both of our countries. Although details about the plan remain sketchy, Jones thinks the proposal will help “considerably” in the effort against drugs and improve the “stability of democracy” in Mexico." ^[10] Calderon has already dispatched 24,000 troops throughout the country as part of his "war on drugs." Many fear that Plan Mexico will lead to increased violence towards government officials. "In March the number of police executed has risen 50% compared to 2006." The price of availability of illegal drugs has not dropped since 2006 in the US or Mexican markets.^[11]

Recommendations for Future Policies

As learned from past policies such as Operation Intercept "Washington must seek to end unilateral policy tendencies, in particular the on again off again Operation Intercept syndrome." Another problem which must be addressed is that there is still a demand for the drugs, especially from the United States. A growing demand for methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine and marijuana leads to a growing supply. As mentioned above the availability of drugs has not fallen nor has the price in a long time." The US government needs to increase its responsibility not only to its citizens but to those on the other side of the border. Attention to demand cannot be continuously ignored. It is not enough to acknowledge that there is a problem, without tacking its roots."^[5] It is important to avoid mistakes made in past policies such as those made during the 1980's. "A drastic change in US policy in the 1980s consisting of an intensive border interdiction program and amore permissive policy regarding the extraterritorial assertion of US narcotics laws ended up working against Mexico’s main policy goals." ^[3] I think that government corruption along with the unwillingness of most of Mexico to participate and mostly unilateral based policies will prove to be a problem now and in the future in implementing antinarcotic policies. I feel that greater attempts should be made to secure the POE's in the United States.

Thought Questions Will the United States really be able to significantly decrease drug trafficking since the cartels have so much power and the government in many cases is still corrupt?

Will this ( Plan Mexico) like previous policies start as a bilateral agreement and end as a unilateral agreement in which most of the responsibility rests in the hands of the United States Government?

Should eradication be used more often? Intelligence operations? What is really the most effective method?

Will Plan Mexico turn into Plan Colombia even though the circumstances are different?

References

Annotated Bibliography

1. Roig-Franzia, Manuel."Mexican Drug Cartels Move North"Washington Post: Washniton DC,2007

Cartels play an important part in the inablity of policies to be effective. This provides example of a very current problem which much be dealt with.

2. Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Marta Tienda, eds. Dimensions of United States- Mexican Relations. Vol. 4. San Diego: Center for U.S Mexican Studies, 1989.

3. Toro, Maria. “Mexico’s War in Drugs” Boulder: Lynne Reinner.1995

This book explains past policies which have and have not been effective in combatting drug trafficking. It provides an in depth look at policies such as Operation Alliance and Operation Cooperation.

4. Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Marta Tienda, eds. Dimensions of United States- Mexican Relations. Vol. 4. San Diego: Center for U.S Mexican Studies, 1989.

5. Chabat, Jorge. Drug Trafficking in the Americas. Ed. Bruce Bagley and William Walker. Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1995.

This book explained drug trafficking in the Americas and the specific drugs being trafficked. It enables one to understand the demand for drugs from the United States and to understand Mexico as a supplier.

6. Craig, Richard. Operation Condor: Mexico's Antidrug Campaign Enters a New Era Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affair. 1980.Vol. 22,3. pp. 345-363

Operation Condor was considered to be a very important policy and sometimes is regarded as Mexicos most important antinarcotic policy. This explains the effects of Operation Condor and how it affected policies today.

7. Falco, Mathea. “US Drug Policy: Addicted to Failure.” Washington DC. 1981.

This was an excellent article, which provides examples of multiple failed attempts concerning US- Mexico drug policies. It explains what exactly went wrong and gives recomendation for future policies.

8. Heredia, Lourdes " Doubts over Bush plan on Mexico drugs" BBC News: 2007

9. Press Release of Senator Menendez October 22nd, 2007

10. US Department of State report on " New U.S- Mexico Plan Seen Improving Border Security October 26th 2007

11. Carlsen, Laura." Militarizing Mexico: The New War on Drugs" Foreign Policy in Focus; 2007.