WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- A U.S. State Department official is calling on lawmakers to support the Merida Initiative to combat transnational criminal organizations that threaten security.
In a statement before the Congressional subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counter-terrorism, David Johnson, assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, called on lawmakers to fund the Merida Initiative, the State Department reported.
Officials say the Merida Initiative is an effort to combat the growing threat of transnational criminal organizations in a regional security cooperation initiative between Mexico, the seven Central American countries and the United States.
The violence of the gangs has only intensified in recent years, and the gangs are now employing terrorist-style tactics to smuggle narcotics around the North American region. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where drug trafficking operations have increased, more than 300 drug-related murders have been committed since January.
Johnson called on lawmakers to support the 2009 budget request for the initiative, asking for $450 million for operations in Mexico and $100 million for Central America. The funding request is part of an over $1.4 billion multi-year request for counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and border security initiatives, if approved by Congress.
