Drug Control: U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit Drugs into the United States Remains High Page: 2 of 29
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i GAO
Accountability Integrity Reliability
Hihlih s
Highlights of GAO-08-215T, a testimony
before the Subcommittee on the Western
Hemisphere, Committee on Foreign
Affairs, House of Representatives
Why GAO Did This Study
The overall goal of the U.S.
National Drug Control Strategy,
which is prepared by the White
House Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP), is to
reduce illicit drug use in the United
States. One of the strategy's
priorities is to disrupt the illicit
drug marketplace. To this end,
since fiscal year 2000, the United
States has provided about
$397 million to support Mexican
counternarcotics efforts. According
to the Department of State (State),
much of the illicit drugs consumed
in the United States flows through
or is produced in Mexico. GAO
examined (1) trends in Mexican
drug production and trafficking
since calendar year 2000 and (2)
U.S. counternarcotics support for
Mexico since fiscal year 2000. This
testimony is based on a recently
issued report (GAO-07-1018) that
addresses these issues.
In the recent report, GAO
recommended that ONDCP and the
U.S. counternarcotics community
coordinate with Mexico before
completing the Southwest Border
Strategy's implementation plan to
(1) help ensure Mexico's
cooperation with any initiatives
that require it and (2) address the
cooperation issues GAO identified.
ONDCP concurred with the
recommendation and has since
assured GAO that the interagency
community is engaged with its
Mexican counterparts.To view the full product, including the scope and
methodology, click on GAO-08-215T. For more
information, contact Jess T. Ford at (202) 512-
4268 or fordj @ gao.gov.DRUG CONTROL
U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican
Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit
Drugs into the United States Remains HighWhat GAO Found
According to the U.S. interagency counternarcotics community, hundreds of
tons of illicit drugs flow from Mexico into the United States each year, and
seizures in Mexico and along the U.S. border have been relatively small in
recent years. The following illustrates some trends since 2000:
* The estimated amount of cocaine arriving in Mexico for transshipment to
the United States averaged about 290 metric tons per year. Reported
seizures averaged about 36 metric tons a year.
* The estimated amount of export quality heroin and marijuana produced in
Mexico averaged almost 19 metric tons and 9,400 metric tons per year,
respectively. Reported heroin seizures averaged less than 1 metric ton and
reported marijuana seizures averaged about 2,900 metric tons a year.
* Although an estimate of the amount of methamphetamine manufactured
in Mexico is not prepared, reported seizures along the U.S. border rose
from about 500 kilograms in 2000 to highs of about 2,800 kilograms in 2005
and about 2,700 kilograms in 2006. According to U.S. officials, this more
than fivefold increase indicated a dramatic rise in supply.
In addition, according to State, corruption persists within the Mexican
government and challenges Mexico's efforts to curb drug production and
trafficking. Moreover, Mexican drug trafficking organizations operate with
relative impunity along the U.S. border and in other parts of Mexico, and have
expanded their illicit business to almost every region of the United States.
U.S. assistance since fiscal year 2000 has helped Mexico strengthen its
capacity to combat illicit drug production and trafficking. Among other things,
extraditions of criminals to the United States increased; thousands of Mexican
law enforcement personnel were trained; and controls over chemicals to
produce methamphetamine were strengthened. Nevertheless, cooperation
with Mexico can be improved. The two countries do not have an agreement
permitting U.S. law enforcement officers to board Mexican-flagged vessels
suspected of transporting illicit drugs on the high seas; an aerial monitoring
program along the U.S. border was suspended because certain personnel
status issues could not be agreed on; State-provided Vietnam-era helicopters
have proved expensive and difficult to maintain and many are not available for
operations; and a State-supported border surveillance program was cut short
due to limited funding and changed priorities.
In 2006, in response to a congressional mandate, ONDCP and other agencies
involved in U.S. counternarcotics efforts developed a strategy to help reduce
the illicit drugs entering the United States from Mexico. An implementation
plan was prepared but is being revised to address certain initiatives recently
undertaken by Mexico. Based on our review of the plan, some proposals
require the cooperation of Mexico; but, according to ONDCP, they had not
been addressed with Mexican authorities at the time of our review.United States Government Accountability Office
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United States. Government Accountability Office. Drug Control: U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit Drugs into the United States Remains High, text, October 25, 2007; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc291474/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.