CODEL ENGEL DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES WITH MEDINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000685

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM MX
SUBJECT: CODEL ENGEL DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES WITH MEDINA
MORA

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Charles V. Barclay. Reason:
1.4 (b),(d).


1. (U) Summary. On February 16, Attorney General (AG)
Eduardo Medina Mora received U.S. Representative Eliot Engel
and members of the House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere
Sub-committee. The AG was accompanied by Attorney General's
Office (PGR) Special Advisor Oscar Rocha, Deputy Attorney
General for Legal and International Affairs Juan Miguel
Alcantra, AG Advisor Jose Octavio Tripp, and other PGR
officials. The AG and the CODEL discussed security
challenges facing both the U.S. and Mexico including the
GOM's efforts to combat narco-trafficking in cooperation with
the U.S., the need for the U.S. to do more on arms
trafficking, crimes committed against U.S. citizens, and
efforts to implement justice reform. End Summary.


U.S.-Mexico Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------

2. (SBU) Medina Mora observed that the current USG-GOM law
enforcement relationship was at its best ever and was
producing results. He outlined GOM/PGR initiatives and
successes, such as the ban on imports of methamphetamine
precursor chemicals and other record-setting seizures. These
measures, along with joint US-Mexico efforts, have reduced
the ability of the cartels to move drugs into the U.S. As
testimony to better enforcement on both sides of the border,
he noted that cocaine prices in the U.S are up and that
purity is down. He cautioned that if drug demand in the
U.S. is inelastic, the flow would continue. That said, he
argued that the U.S. should support more demand reduction
programs domestically.

Narco-Violence
--------------

3. (SBU) The AG surmised that GOM pressure on traffickers had
resulted in a violent turf war among the cartels, as well as
the evolution of other forms of criminal activity such as
kidnapping and extortion. Of the more than 6000
narco-related intentional homicides in 2008, 90 percent were
among cartel members or in confrontation with federal forces.
That said, Mexico's violent homicide rate -- roughly 10 per
100,000 inhabitants -- remains low compared with other Latin
American countries. In 2008, the rates for Colombia and
Brazil were 33 and 40, respectively. Historically, Mexico's
violent homicide rate has actually decreased from 18 since
the early 90s, when many of the violent homicides were due to
communal disputes in Chiapas and Oaxaca. Medina Mora
recognized that the current type of violence is more
worrisome as an institutional threat and that more
cooperation and intelligence sharing with the USG was
necessary to confront it.

Arms Trafficking
--------------

4. (C) The AG said that the other relevant component to the
security situation is the flow of cash and arms from the U.S.
into Mexico. Over 90% of the weapons seized in Mexico come
from the U.S. Since the beginning of Calderon's
Administration (December 2006),over 33,000 weapons have been
seized; 18,000 of which are assault rifles, AK-47, R-15s.
The AG said that this was -- in both relative and absolute
numbers -- more than double after the U.S. ban on assault
rifles was lifted. He argued that the U.S. amendment on arms
possession was never meant to arm criminal groups, and that
much more needed to be done to stem the flow. Representative
Engel agreed with the AG on the issue of arms trafficking and
said that he had presented President Obama with a letter on
February 12, calling on him to enforce the ban on assault
rifles.


5. (SBU) The AG added that 70 percent of total sales of
weapons in the U.S. -- that later ended up in Mexico -- are
sold to legitimate buyers who sell their identities at about
$50 a piece. He complained that this practice was illegal,
yet happens without consequence. He insisted that more be
done to stop this activity.

Judicial Reform
--------------

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6. (SBU) Representative Engle praised the GOM's comprehensive
justice system reforms and asked if there were funds needed
under the Merida Initiative to assist in their
implementation. The AG acknowledged that justice reform in
Mexico represented a big challenge that would necessitate
more resources, but that many states were already moving in
that direction.


Brad Will
--------------

7. (C) Representative Engle asked about the status of the
Brad Will case. The AG explained that the Expert Forensic
Office of PGR determined that bullet that killed Amcit Brad
Will was a short distance shot. They have apprehended a
suspect who is being prosecuted. PGR produced a report on
the incident which has been shared with Mexican Ambassador
Sharukan that addresses many of the points raised by human
rights organizations. Unfortunately, the conclusion drawn
from the report is not very popular with groups close to Brad
Will in Oaxaca. The analysis is the product of careful
forensic investigation and the family will have access to the
report.

Border Security
--------------

8. (C) Representative Salazar asked if the GOM would have
sufficient revenue to invest in border security measures next
year, given the economic crisis and the outlook for oil
revenue and the futures market. The AG politely acknowledged
that Mexico's terrorism strategy was not designed to "please
the U.S." That said, he noted that not a single terrorist
had entered the U.S. to date from Mexico, and it was in the
GOM's interest to ensure one never does so as to avoid an
"irrational reaction" by the U.S. He said that while 2009's
budget was covered, 2010 would be challenging. Nevertheless,
he assured the U.S. delegation that there were certain
priority areas of spending that could not be cut.

Missing Americans
--------------
9.(C) Rep. Cuellar raised the issue of missing Americans in
Mexico and encouraged the GOM to continue working with the
FBI on these cases, as closure was needed for their families
in the United States. The AG assured continued cooperation
with the FBI in solving these cases. He noted that crime
levels in Nuevo Laredo were much lower, but that this was not
necessarily a "good sign," as it could imply that one of the
cartels had taken control of the area.
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