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08/08/11 – A new level of collaboration between the United States and Mexico has been reached with the implementation of Central Intelligence Agency officials and retired military personnel into Mexico as additional support for combating drug trafficking and organized crime. For the first time, security officials of both countries are gathering information about drug-related organized crime and collaborating on operations to combat it. The CIA has reportedly been conducting operations in Mexico after Mexican President Felipe Calderón requested help to reestablish security in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Alejandro Poiré, the technical secretary of National Security (Secretario Tecnico de Seguridad Nacional) maintained, however, that there is “respect of the sovereignty” as U.S. government agents working in Mexico are unarmed. In addition, the CIA’s agenda in Mexico was designed to comply with international laws and the Merida Initiative. The whereabouts of the CIA special unit in Mexico is confidential, although the operation is reportedly taking place on a Mexican military base.

“Exchange of information happens exclusively between federal authorities of both countries” indicated Poiré. El Universal noted that such information has led to the arrest of at least 30 high-profile drug dealers in the past few years. According to the New York Times, Mexico’s drug cartels provide for 80% of illegal drugs consumed in the United States. For that reason, increased efforts to fight organized crime within the past three years have placed Mexico over Colombia and Afghanistan as recipients of U.S. aid.

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