Fight against drug trafficking in LatAm lacks effective rules

The Nuevo Leon expert added that the current Federal Law Against Organized Crime, which includes exceptional measures such as house arrest, should be modified so that it clearly specifies instruments and powers that the 31 states and Mexico City can use to fight criminals within their jurisdiction.

Gonzalez-Villalobos stressed the need for a national law against organized crime with mechanisms that are compatible with the new adversarial and accusatory justice system.

"The current Federal Law Against Organized Crime is not enough. It has serious problems and doesn't correspond to the political decision that the Mexican government has taken to nationalize criminal procedures," confirmed Gonzalez-Villalobos, who has a Masters in International Law.

Gonzalez-Villalobos warned that the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico and in Latin America in general will not prosper if mechanisms against corruption are not also established as this is a factor that affects the region and allows organized crime to happen.

Latin American countries could have better laws, communication systems and facilities in their security agencies. However, organized crime will continue if corruption among public officials does not reduce, said the consultant.

"The scourge isn't drugs. The scourge is organized crime groups' ability to infiltrate key institutions," Gonzalez-Villalobos noted.

source : xinhua