Tijuana mayor announces anti-drug effort

TIJUANA, Mexico, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The mayor of Tijuana says that Mexican federal officials have accepted his plan to use new legal tools in a crackdown on drug cartels.

Jorge Ramos's plans involve 200 laws that have either been adopted recently or updated, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. They range from longer prison terms for those convicted of drug violence to penalties against landlords who rent to gang members.

Jorge Ramos went to Mexico City this week to discuss his plans in person, a spokesman, Abraham Salcido, said.

Tijuana has been rocked by a feud between rival drug cartels that is believed to be responsible for many of the 843 killings reported last year in Baja California. The bloodshed continued into January, the state Attorney General's Office said.

The mayor said that federal officials increased the funding for the anti-drug effort in Tijuana by 40 percent to $11.5 million. Some of the money is being used for army patrols inside the city.