[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         DRUG CRISIS IN MEXICO

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 5, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Washington Post this week has been 
running a series of front-page articles documenting the effects of the 
overwhelming quantities of drugs pouring across our border with Mexico. 
The Post series has highlighted the terrible threat of corruption also 
in our own law enforcement ranks, breakdowns in cooperation at the 
working level between the United States and Mexico, and the spread of 
drug-related crime and drug gangs in our cities and among our immigrant 
communities.
  I have long been deeply concerned about the escalating drug crisis in 
Mexico and the United States. In recent meetings with Mexico's Foreign 
Minister, attorney general, and Ambassador to the United States, I 
delivered a frank, critical message as a long-time friend of Mexico.
  On the positive side, we should recognize that President Zedillo's 
move to quickly remove the corrupt drug czar, Gen. Jose Gutierrez, sent 
an important signal that even the highest officials can not betray 
Mexico's trust with impunity. The Mexican Government has also greatly 
improved its cooperation with refueling on our counternarcotics 
missions, especially for maritime deployments to interdict drugs along 
the transit route currently favored by narcotics traffickers.
  However, grave problems persist in our counternarcotics efforts with 
Mexico which both countries are simply going to have to face and work 
harder to fix. The drug trade in all its facets threatens us equally. 
We must not let ourselves be divided in fighting this scourge. Because 
of this, President Zedillo's reported statements that the United 
States--as a consumer of illicit drugs--should make reparations for the 
damage caused to Mexico by the drug trade were especially troubling. We 
can not accept that assertion. We know empirically that the narcotics 
traffickers have been dumping drugs onto our streets and using supply 
to create the increased demand that lines their pockets with criminal 
wealth.
  Our DEA agents who put their lives on the line in Mexico must be 
allowed to carry arms to defend themselves from deadly thugs. They must 
have the right to protect themselves as they help Mexico fight the 
scourge of illicit drugs. This matter should not be turned into a 
target of anachronistic rhetoric.
  Despite President Zedillo's apparent good intentions, the organized 
crime units and other antidrug infrastructure and critically needed 
improvements seem to be moving slowly. Some 234 individuals dismissed 
for drug-related corruption have been reinstated on appeal. Recycling 
antidrug personnel unfortunately seems far too commonplace in Mexico. 
Moreover, compared to previous years, seizure rates especially for the 
cocaine which has been pouring into the United States from Mexico, are 
disappointing and distressing.
  No major cartel leader has been arrested in Mexico since the March 1 
certification. Also, despite 23 pending requests for extradition of 
Mexican nationals on narcotics offenses, Mexico has not extradited a 
single Mexican--as opposed to dual--national to the United States on 
narcotics charges since certification. Finally, only 16 out 48 
helicopters in the possession of the Mexican Army that we provided to 
Mexico are in operation. Those helicopters that are operating are 
primarily conducting surveillance missions and have not made any drug 
seizures.
  The situation is not encouraging. As the Washington Post articles 
point out, drugs are breeding addiction and its attendant misery, 
violence, and corruption on both sides of our border with Mexico. We 
must redouble our Nation's commitment to reinforce every legitimate 
effort to combat this well-armed, wealthy, and ruthless underworld. It 
is essential that to be effective, our war on drugs must have the 
cooperation of our neighbors and the international community.

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