Feinstein Discusses Efforts to Combat Drug Cartel Violence

San Diego, Calif. – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Alan Bersin, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, today met with local, state and federal law enforcement and representatives from Mexico to discuss coordinated efforts by U.S. and Mexican officials to combat drug cartel violence.

"Today´s news of Mexican authorities arresting 27 officials – including 10 mayors – for alleged ties to drug cartels provides another example of the unprecedented commitment by President Calderon to combat the four major Mexican cartels," Senator Feinstein said. "Now, more than ever, we need to work step by step with Mexican officials in bi-national efforts to combat the tide of violence, kidnapping and drug crime on both sides of the border."

"I pledge to do all I can to ensure that federal dollars are appropriated to combat this serious problem and that the resources flow expeditiously to where they are most needed," Senator Feinstein added.

"Cooperation and collaboration must be the cornerstone of how our nation addresses our border and our border communities," said Assistant Secretary Bersin. "In addition to intense cooperation with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in his struggle to dismantle the criminal drug organizations that plague both of our countries, the Department of Homeland Security is committed to working together with Congress to secure our nation´s border, stop the flow of drugs, and crack down on illegal immigration to keep our nation and our communities safe."

Representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Attorney´s Office and local police departments all attended today´s briefing.

Topics included: recent drug seizures and investigations, the battle between drug cartels in Mexico, ways to expand trans-border cooperation and collaboration, and regional and local San Diego County law enforcement needs to combat drug cartel violence along the U.S. border.

As the new co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Senator Feinstein has vowed to make fighting Mexican drug cartels a top priority.

Senator Feinstein has met with State Department officials to push for the expedited delivery of helicopters to help the Mexican government interdict drug cartel operations.

Senator Feinstein also has asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take up and pass the Inter-American Convention against illegal arms trafficking so that it can be ratified. The convention helps members of the Organization of American States to shut down the illicit trade in firearms that fuels drug violence, terrorism and organized crime by requiring signatories to:

Establish an effective licensing system for the export and import of firearms;

Establish a marking system for firearms, and;

Criminalize the illicit manufacture of and trafficking in firearms.

Senator Feinstein also commended Mexico President Felipe Calderon for taking a brave stand against the cartels, including the deployment of thousands of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Obama Administration for taking strong initial steps to combat the rising tide of cross-border drug violence.

In February, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the seizure of more than 23 tons of narcotics and the arrests of more than 750 people as part of Operation Xcellerator, a multi-agency, multi-national effort to target the Sinaloa Cartel.

"We need to do all we can in Congress to encourage these efforts and make sure we´ve turned over every rock in search of strategies to combat the serious problem of drug cartel violence," Senator Feinstein added.