Highlights:
– United States releases first stage of US$400 billion aid package to Mexico
– Aid provides support through technical gear, training programs
– While funding will provide Mexican security with necessary equipment, aid is unlikely to strengthen security apparatus to counter ongoing cartel operations
Originally promised in June 2008, the United States (US) ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, officially released the first-portion of the Merida Initiative, a US$400 billion aid package, on December 4, 2008. The granting of US$197 million in early December was a welcome gesture of support to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, whose campaign to stop drug-related violence throughout the country has experienced shortcomings.
While the majority of Mexican citizens approve of President Calderon’s law-and-order policies and security initiatives against the cartels, the deep infiltration of cartel operatives and supporters within the law enforcement community, not lack of technical ability, remains the largest obstacle to restoring peace. As such, President Calderon will likely immediately distribute the technical assistance from the US, and work to increase US support for anti-corruption programs and investigations in the mid to long-term.
Merida Initiative Aid Released
At a signing ceremony in Mexico City, US Ambassador Garza officially released US$197 million, the first part of the Merida Initiative aid package for 2009. While approximately US$136 million of this year’s aid to Mexico is already in place through other agreements, including military cooperation, Ambassador Garza announced that the rest of the US$400 million aid package would be distributed throughout 2009. As previously reported, the Merida Initiative is a multi-year assistance program for Mexico (US$400 million) and Central America (US$65 million) to specifically combat illicit narcotics operations (Previous Report). While the aid package includes no cash, it will supply Mexico with much-needed technological assistance in the form of helicopters, surveillance aircraft, airport inspection gear and case-tracking software. The aid is also intended to provide technical advice and training to improve the vetting of new Mexican police forces and promoting the establishment of witness protection programs.
As Mexican President Felipe Calderon has been pushing the US to release the aid since June 2008, the government has applauded the granting of the first portion of assistance. However, Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission has voiced concern that the majority of the aid will be sent to notoriously corrupt police officials and military responsible for human rights abuses during their campaigns against violent drug cartels operating in the country. The US aid does come with human rights regulations that must be met by Mexico’s military, however the stipulations were somewhat softened during discussions with US lawmakers in June 2008. To uphold the terms of the aid, the US will likely push Mexico to disclose additional human rights records in the near to mid-term before the granting of further aid.
Ongoing Violence and Police Corruption
Drug related violence continues to increase throughout the country, especially in the border cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Between November 26 and December 1, 2008 in Tijuana, 37 people were killed, including four children shot during gunfights. Police believe some of the murders may be part of a “retaliatory spree” after the killing of a drug trafficker’s girlfriend. Three police officers were among those found decapitated, with their police credentials stuffed in their mouths, along with six other men near a schoolyard in a poor neighborhood. The four child victims were killed by indiscriminate gunfire outside of a convenience store and while riding in a vehicle that was sprayed with bullets. While police have not identified the perpetrators of the killings, interviews with the victims’ families indicated that approximately 80 percent of the victims, aside from the children, maintained some involvement in drug dealing in some capacity.
Additionally, Baja California state attorney general announced on December 1 that Tijuana’s police chief, Alberto Capella, would be replaced by his second-in-command, army Cmdr. Julian Leyzaola. While authorities did not release a reason for Capella’s dismissal, a number of internal investigations have been launched in recent weeks into corrupt police officers, resulting in numerous firings. Additional information regarding Capella’s specific discharge will likely be released in the coming days. Tijuana continues to experience one of the highest levels of violence, as factions of the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO) continue to battle for control of drug smuggling routes, as well as against security officials in the area. Additional high profile law enforcement officials will likely be charged in the near to mid-term, as President Calderon uses new US assistance to crack down on internal corruption.
Outlook
Drug cartels continue to capitalize on the under-trained, under-paid and hence easily corrupted police offers to continue their smuggling operations from South America to the US. The technical assistance will likely increase Mexico’s rapid-response enforcement operations in the near-term, however ongoing identification of corruption within the law enforcement community will likely hinder any large-scale success in combating the cartel violence in the near to mid-term.
