Thread: Central Texas lawmakers warn of Mexican drug violence

Central Texas lawmakers warn of Mexican drug violence
McCaul urges greater U.S. cooperation to fight the cartels as Congress considers aid package.
By Jeremy Schwartz

MEXICO CITY BUREAU

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MEXICO CITY — Two Central Texas lawmakers warned Monday that Mexican drug cartel violence is spilling across the border into Texas and urged greater U.S. cooperation to fight the traffickers.

U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, are getting a firsthand view of the Mexican government's bloody battle against warring cartels in advance of congressional debate on a proposed $1.4 billion aid package to help Mexico fight its drug war.

The lawmakers, both members of the House Homeland Security Committee, met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and other top Mexican officials Monday.

"They are our neighbor to the south, and they have a huge problem that has become our problem as well," McCaul said. "It should be a shared responsibility."

Both men praised Calderón's efforts to directly confront the drug cartels, but noted that the Mexican government still has a long way to go. Calderón has sent thousands of troops to the northern border region in recent weeks to quell violence that has left scores dead since Jan. 1.

Before visiting Mexico City, the two House members met with officials in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, the border city that is headquarters of the Gulf Cartel, one of two Mexican cartels battling for supremacy over drug trafficking routes.

The visit came at a particularly violent moment along the border, which in recent days has been the scene of raging shootouts from Tijuana to Rio Bravo to Matamoros. More than 160 people have been killed in drug violence in Mexico this month.

The visit also came as Mexico announced the capture of Alfredo Beltrán Leyva, considered the nation's third-most important drug lord, McCaul said. Beltrán Leyva, one of the highest-ranking chiefs within the Sinaloa Cartel, headed up drug transportation, money laundering and the bribing of public officials for his organization, according to the Mexican government.

McCaul said the arrest is evidence that Mexico is making progress in its fight. "The guy they arrested today was kind of the brains of the operation," McCaul said. "These arrests make a huge impact.

"You're really cutting the head off the snake. They lose a lot."

But McCaul said he's convinced that Mexico needs U.S. help in its fight against the drug cartels.

Presidents Bush and Calderón have endorsed the $1.4 billion aid package, dubbed the Mérida Initiative, but it's unclear whether the U.S. Congress will pass the measure. McCaul said he would like to see more U.S. military assistance, more intelligence sharing and better coordination between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement as part of any assistance to Mexico.

"In my view, the violence has spilled over, and we have to do something about it," he said.

McCaul and Cuellar said that Calderón emphasized his government's commitment to reforming Mexico's notoriously corrupt legal system and efforts to root out corruption from Mexican police forces, especially at the federal level.

"The Mexicans are taking some very bold steps," Cuellar said. "People should not question their commitment."

Cuellar also called for attacking the cartels in Mexico before they emerge as threats in Texas cities along the Interstate 35 corridor such as Austin and San Antonio.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/n ... exico.html

Quote(Cuellar also called for attacking the cartels in Mexico before they emerge as threats in Texas cities along the Interstate 35 corridor such as Austin and San Antonio.) Quote

You waited too long in sealing the border Sir they are now here in central Texas and growing in number.

Seems to me if they couldn't bring the drugs into the U.S. this would die out. No supply no demand for drugs. Shut the boarders and the problem disappears shortly afterwards. Invest the billions and billions on boarder control idiot, Instead of padding pockets of a corrupt government. Most likely drug dealers to boot! Throwing our money into Mexico hasn't done any good in the past.