Teamwork Needed To Improve Security And Safety In Mexico

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MEXIDATA . INFO Column 010509 Brewer

Monday, January 5, 2009 Teamwork Needed to Improve Security and Safety in Mexico By Jerry Brewer Strategically engaging the principal sources of domestic instability within Mexico could be within reach. Although Mexico's security is currently an overwhelming task, the current situation primarily rests with the military and is an army-directed operation. The all too familiar explanations from government officials on the lack of proactive police response to the dilemma does hold sobering merit. Police officers in Mexico are severely underpaid, thus susceptible to corruption and outside influences. Too, the stark reality is the police are not respected by the public and, in many cases, they are feared. What will it take in Mexico to bring their law enforcement organizations full circle to meet and fulfill their statutory mandates in an effective manner? Realistically, some of the actual fundamentals of this enormous task are quite simplistic in nature with the proper leadership and quality control. First and foremost, much of the essential groundwork must begin with the insufficiently coordinated law enforcement structure and overall effort. Much of this relating to the lack of capabilities within their human and physical resources. Lack of training and necessary equipment, along with being seriously overburdened with the magnitude of the violence and weaponry directed against them, must be attributed to the current recipe for disaster served up in massive death and gallons of bloodshed. As the U.S. continues to face overwhelming drug demand at home and supply from our border to the south, Mexico, in turn, must protect its border from firearms smuggled from the U.S., thus fueling the drug cartel's and other narcoterrorist's ability to terrorize and murder. Both of these conflicting mandates for critical border security on both sides of the border clearly reflect the need for strategic coordination and intelligence sharing.

The U.S. and Mexico share many of the mutual challenges in this prolific fight against the criminal syndicates. Organized criminal activity, corruption, and the constant threat of sophisticated weapons and paramilitary-styled tactics are far beyond any wall constructed or planned to contain or even repel this elusive and powerful enemy. While Mexico wrestles with the inadequacy and basic lack of police and investigative skills and evidence collection capabilities at the police level, the U.S. must also prepare to train and properly instruct its police in engaging an enemy they were never prepared to face – a tactical, military-style army of special forces trained deserters and commandos. One particular stronghold of a united force against the narcoterrorists is the proper and coordinated use of intelligence gathering and processing mechanisms. Centralized criminal databases, such as the powerful El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and other regional U.S. law enforcement intelligence centers, are acutely structured and key schematic repositories of robust tactical and strategic intelligence information. Intelligence collection, as well as the proactive recruitment of informers or contributors has resulted in the capture and arrest of a significant number of drug cartel kingpins previously enjoying safe haven. Bounty on the capture of this hierarchy of leadership within the cartels has obviously contributed to much of the success. Mexico has risen to the occasion in spirited cooperation with the U.S. in the capture and extradition of these leaders. The military, police, and other law enforcement entities within Mexico must possess the skills, knowledge and abilities to confront and actively, as well as tactically, engage the narcoterrorists. There must be uniformity in strategies that require uniformity in training and preparation. This will enhance Mexico's counternarcotics capabilities and ultimately improve the country's civil security infrastructure. Specific kinds of training within this critical attempt to gain control of their homeland must include the tools to decisively engage militant extremist threats at all levels. Mexico must be prepared at the policy level to confront the challenges facing its citizens from these violent organized criminal syndicates. Too, the routine street crime problems must continue to be attended to, as well as the establishment of key transparent and accountable community-based policing concepts to safeguard life and be respectful of human rights. The military must be able to refocus on Mexico's borders that are significantly unmanned and vulnerable. Migrating transnational gangs, as well as remnants of other Latin American paramilitary organizations and deserters such as the Guatemalan Kaibiles and Colombia's FARC guerrillas, remain a threat. The fusing of these well-armed and sophisticated combatants could easily become de facto governments within themselves and threaten the Mexican government's ability to

maintain its control. The U.S. must continue to assist its neighbor to the south with practical, as well as conceptual, exploration and related support that provides both security and allows for good governance for its citizens and their democracy. —————————— Jerry Brewer is Vice President of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Miami, Florida. [email protected]