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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. jbrewer@cjiausa.org