the secretary of External relationshipsMarcelo Ebrard, highlighted that with the operation of the Bicentennial Understanding, 10 achievements have been achieved in 11 weeks, as well as the installation of the United States-Mexico Binational Committeewhich will be in charge of authorizing and channeling the resources that both countries will invest to achieve the shared objectives.
During the presentation of the progress of said mechanism at the headquarters of the Mexican Foreign Ministry, accompanied by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodriguez and the United States Ambassador, Ken Salazar; Ebrard listed that since the bilateral cooperation agreement began, addictions have been treated through the Health Care Memorandum; there are six high-level cases prosecuted in the United States related to arms trafficking to Mexico; the dismantling of a laboratory dedicated to fentanyl in Mexico; 10 tons of cocaine have been intercepted by air and by sea, classification of fentanyl precursors in order to control their importation into Mexico and be more efficient at the ports of entry.
Confiscations of fentanyl in pill form and other presentations also increased; 350% since the Understanding entered (October 8) to date; If an annual average is made, it went from 54 weapons to 110 weapons in eTrace per day; 16 states already have access to eTrace.
The Mexican foreign minister highlighted that leaders or lieutenants of the main cartels operating in Mexico and the United States have been arrested, including “El Huevo” Treviño; “The accountant” Cárdenas, from the Gulf; Salgueiro, from the Pacific; “La Chopa”, from Jalisco New Generation; Juan Alberto Cardona, from the South, from Sinaloa, sorry; and “El Chaparrito”, Jalisco New Generation Cartel; and “El 300” from the Chihuahua CDP.
While the tenth achievement has to do with the prompt completion of the investigation of the Chiapas tragedy.
“The Bicentennial Understanding is working. We have from this period (…) 10 specific achievements (…) All this has been done in 11 weeks, ”he declared during his participation.
In substitution of the Mérida Initiative, on October 8, 2021, the governments of Mexico and the United States gave way to the Bicentennial Understanding.
Ken Salazar, United States ambassador to Mexico, stressed that there is progress in joint work on both sides of the border, however, he acknowledged that there is still much to be done together. “There are very difficult issues but they also create the opportunity to solve problems,” he said.
The owner of the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSCP) highlighted that Mexico and the United States have been able to establish an open and frank dialogue in order to work together.
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