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U.S. - Mexican Relations

As our neighbor to the South, Mexico is one country in which our 'war on drugs' has had a drastic effect. The Mexican government as a whole, it's anti-drug policies, and the people of Mexico have all felt the sting of the radical, extremely militarized policies we are using to fight America's drug problem.

The history of U.S.- Mexican cooperation on anti-drug efforts:

1948- The First National Eradication Campaign (La Gran Campana): assigned military forces to eradication efforts

1969- Operation Intercept I: US and Mexico intensified air and sea surveillance along the border along with heightened security and inspections at the border

late 1970s- Operation Condor: aerial herbicide spraying, U.S. government provided photographic equipment, helicopters, specialized aircrafts and training to Mexican pilots to spray marijuana and poppy fields

1985- Operation Intercept II: U.S. government ordered partial closure of the border to pressure Mexican government to enforce stricter anti-drug laws

1987-1988- Narcotics trafficking declared a 'national security problem' by President De La Madrid- increased federal funding for anti-drug efforts

As U.S. pressure to make more progress in the war on drugs increases, the Mexican government is also increasing the use of its military in their efforts to combat narco-trafficking.
"Through the anti-drug campaign, the military has become the 'supreme authority' in some Mexican states." (Maria Celia Toro, Mexico's 'War' on Drugs, p. 56)