Pubdate: Mon, 19 May 2008 Source: Miami Herald (FL) Copyright: 2008 Miami Herald Media Co. Contact: http://www.miamiherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262 Author: Ricado Alday, spokesman, Mexican Embassy MEXICO'S ROLE IN METH CONTROL The May 11 article Mexicans conquer U.S. 'meth' trade correctly underscores some of the challenges Mexico and the United States face as our governments jointly and co-responsibly take on the scourge of drug-trafficking organizations operating on both sides of the border. However, the article does not address key issues that I believe are essential elements to present a comprehensive picture of this challenge. First, as acknowledged by U.S. law-enforcement agencies, there is no evidence to sustain that ``Mexican drug gangs now produce 80 percent of the methamphetamine consumed in the United States.'' Second, and more important, the article does not mention comprehensive controls and actions implemented recently by the Mexican government to combat the flow of chemicals used for meth production. These include limited imports and commercialization permits, establishing only three designated ports of entry for import-export of these chemicals to Mexico and legislation that will turn Mexico into a pseudoephedrine-free country by the end of the year. John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, recently reported that counter-narcotics actions implemented by the Mexican government are directly linked to the decrease of almost 50 percent in methamphetamine seizures across the U.S. southwest border, and to the increase in price per gram of meth, the decrease of its purity and the reduction of meth accessibility in cities throughout the United States. I commend The Miami Herald for its interest and coverage of this most important issue. Ricado Alday, spokesman, Mexican Embassy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin