AUMENTÓ LA “COCA” GRACIAS A CALDERÓN: DEA
Por Vicente Calderón
Tijuana, 6 de mayo de 2010
La agencia norteamericana contra las drogas, DEA, por sus
siglas en inglés elogió los logros del gobierno del presidente
Felipe Calderón, en la lucha contra el narcotráfico en México.
Durante su comparecencia ante el comité de control internacional
de narcóticos del senado norteamericano, Kevin L. Perkins,
director asistente de la división de investigación criminal del FBI
y Anthony P. Placido, administrador asistente del area de
inteligencia de la DEA, dijeron que es crucial para la seguridad
nacional tanto de México como de Estados Unidos, seguir apoyando
a la administración del presidente mexicano en su lucha contra
los cárteles de la droga.
Los funcionarios consideraron que hay varios resultados del
progreso logrado contra el narcotráfico en la unión americana
que son resultado de los esfuerzos de sus homólogos mexicanos.
Uno de ellos es el incremento sostenido durante los tres
últimos años del costo de la cocaína en el mercado estadounidense
y de la disminución en un 33% de la pureza de la droga.
En sus conclusiones explicaron que “de enero de 2007 a diciembre
del 2009 el precio por gramo de cocaína aumentó en un 72%,
de 98.88 dólares a 169.93 dólares”.
Además enfatizaron la necesidad de mantener la colaboración
con el gobierno mexicano que dijeron; “ha logrado enormes logros
en reestablecer la regla de la ley en México.
Sin embargo, reconocieron que debido a estos avances
es muy probable que la violencia que se ha venido viendo en
territorio mexicano aumente antes de que llegue a disminuir,
por lo que consideraron “medidas desesperadas de las nuevas
y más jovenes organizaciones criminales”.
Resaltaron la importancia de mantener la presencia de sus
agentes norteamericanos en México. La DEA es la agencia
que más elementos tiene trabajando al sur de la frontera
con 62, en la ciudades de México, Tijuana, Hermosillo, Nogales,
Ciudad Juarez, Mazatlan, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Matamoros,
Nuevo Laredo y Mérida.
Esta es la versión en inglés, de las conclusiones presentadas por
Pulido y Perkins ante el comité senatorial, tomadas de la página
del FBI.
The daily challenges posed by drug trafficking organizations in the United States and Mexico are significant, but are overshadowed of late by a very specific set of challenges: ensuring that the rampant violence in Mexico does not spill over our border; closely monitoring the security situation in Mexico; and, perhaps most importantly, lending our assistance and support to the Calderon Administration to ensure its continued success against the ruthless and powerful cartels. The GOM has realized enormous gains in re-establishing the rule of law in Mexico, and in breaking the power and impunity of the DTOs who threaten Mexico’s, and our, national security. The Calderon Administration’s gains translate to an unparalleled positive impact on the U.S. drug market as well: from January 2007 through December 2009, the price per gram of cocaine increased 72 percent from $98.88 to $169.93, while the average purity decreased by almost 33 percent. These statistics paint a clear picture of restricted drug flow into the United States and decreased availability. While spikes—upward or downward—in price and purity have been observed in the past, these indicators typically normalize within a few months. Unlike in the past, we are now in the midst of a sustained, three-year period of escalating prices and decreasing purity. Anecdotal evidence from around the country and closer to home here in the District of Columbia, including intercepted communications of the traffickers themselves, corroborates the fact that President Calderon’s efforts are making it more difficult for traffickers to supply the U.S.
market with illicit drugs.
The Department recognizes that interagency and international collaboration and coordination is fundamental to our success. It is imperative that we sustain the positive momentum by supporting President Calderon’s heroic efforts against organized crime. We must also manage expectations, as we anticipate that the gruesome violence in Mexico may get worse before it gets better. We must recognize that we are witnessing acts of true desperation: the actions of wounded, vulnerable, and dangerous criminal organizations. We remain committed to working with our U.S. law enforcement and intelligence partners as well, to stem the flow of bulk cash and weapons south, while also working to sustain the disruption of drug transportation routes northward. Bringing to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations involved in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit trafficking in the United States remains the core of our focus.