Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

The United States leverages foreign assistance and diplomacy with Mexico to reduce the impact of illicit drugs on U.S. communities, dismantle criminal organizations, help Mexico manage migration, and improve the effectiveness of Mexico’s criminal justice to better prevent, investigate, and prosecute crime. By focusing on building capacity across Mexico’s criminal justice system, INL assistance supports a comprehensive and sustainable approach to improve security for the long term. INL’s goals in Mexico are:

• Reduce Drug Cultivation and Production: The United States and Mexico work together to reduce the supply of drugs to the United States with projects that support Mexico’s efforts to eradicate opium poppy, dismantle clandestine drug laboratories, and better track shipments of the precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs in Mexico.
• Secure Borders and Ports and Increase Drug Interdictions: INL strengthens our shared border security by providing training and equipment to Mexican agencies to disrupt the movement of weapons, cash, and drugs. INL assistance enhances U.S.-Mexican coordination against transnational threats.
• Disrupt Illicit Finance: INL projects deny transnational criminal organizations access to the illicit proceeds of their criminal activities by building Mexico’s capacity to investigate networks and seize criminal assets.
• Professionalize Police: INL helps enhance public security in Mexico by supporting Mexico’s efforts to promote accountability, professionalism, integrity, respect for human rights, and adherence to due process among the country’s law enforcement officials.
• Reduce Impunity: INL strengthens Mexico’s rule of law by helping Mexican law enforcement and justice institutions and officials work together to build and present strong legal cases against organized crime, corruption, money laundering, and trafficking.