Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Friday, June 5, 2009

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman Applauds National Efforts to Combat Drug Cartels

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today applauded the Obama Administration’s unveiling of an extensive strategy to combat drug smuggling, arms trading, and currency trafficking along the U.S.-Mexican border.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, and Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske were in Albuquerque today to announce the release of the National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy for 2009, which directs federal agencies to increase coordination and information sharing with state and local law enforcement agencies, intensifies efforts to interdict the southbound flow of weapons and drug profits, and calls for continued close collaboration with the Government of Mexico in fighting violent drug cartels.

“The report charts a new course for addressing criminal activity along the Southwest border.  For the first time, it formally recognizes the significant role illegal weapons trafficking plays in fueling the violence in Mexico and in enabling drug cartels to maintain control over their smuggling operations," U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman said. "I applaud the Obama administration for developing this comprehensive strategy and I pledge to help implement it in any way I can."

Bingaman said he was pleased the plan announced today incorporated suggestions he raised earlier this year in a letter to Holder, Napolitano, and Kerlikoweske emphasizing the importance of disrupting firearms trafficking networks and focusing on seizing drug proceeds being smuggled back into Mexico as bulk cash.  The strategy also acknowledges that reducing the demand for drugs is an essential aspect of addressing border-related crime, and highlights the importance of developing effective prevention and treatment efforts. 

Bingaman recently secured $15 million to expand Project Gunrunner, an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiative that seeks to stem the flow of guns from the United States to Mexico.  He also helped secure $30 million in Department of Justice (DOJ) grant funding for border law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the tools they need to fight drug-related crime.