Merida Initiative 2.0 US Policy to support Mexico’s counternarcotics efforts

1. Merida Initiative 2.0 US Policy to support Mexico’s counternarcotics efforts Candace Burnham

2. Contents

3. Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) Four factors: 1. Demand for drugs Not just drugs: 2. Unemployment 3. Weak public institutions 4. Poor coordination

4. Merida Initiative - history 2008 Priorities 3-year, $1.4 billion Long-term

5. Merida Initiative - components Complements U.S. domestic efforts Funding for: • Equipment • anti-gang training • Technical training to strengthen the institutions of justice

6. Merida Initiative - Successes Mexico Removal of Key Drug Trafficking Organization Leaders • Arturo Beltran Leyva • Carlos Beltran Leyva • Arrest of Eduardo Teodoro “El Teo” Garcia Simental Legal Cooperation: extradited 107 in 09 Gov of Mexico Statistics on Seizures (December 2006 – March 2010): • 92 tons of cocaine, 6,500 tons of marijuana • 949 kilos of heroine. • 30,752 small arms, 38,926 large caliber arms and 4,971 grenades. • 299 million pesos and 389 million dollars . United States Project Coronado: • 303 arrested in October 09 • 1,186 arrests made in 44 months Operation Xcellerator • Resulted in seizure of • $59 million in currency • hundreds of firearms • > 12,000 kilos of cocaine • 12,000 pounds of meth • > 750 individuals assoc with Sinaloa cartel arrested Feb 09 U.S. Interagency Border Architecture http://tinyurl.com/meridainitiative

7. GAO report “The chief conclusion is that the Mérida Initiative is delivering results but must be bolstered in order to achieve its aims.” Improvements: • Increased staffing • Tracking system

8. Merida 2.0 (2010) $175 million in additional aid to Mexico to support “judicial reform, institution building, anti-corruption, and rule of law activities.” 1. Disrupting the capacity of DTOs 2. Reforming capacity of Mexico’s security and justice institutions 3. Twenty-first century border 4. Building strong, resilient communities

9. Criticism “Supply only” Arms Violence