Mexico City - Mexico has asked the United States for 1
billion dollars in equipment and training to fight drug traffic, the
Mexican daily El Universal reported Friday.
Quoting 'well-informed sources' in a report out of Washington, the
newspaper said the US government is studying the proposal.
On Thursday, Mexican federal agents arrested former governor of
Quintana Roo Mario Villanueva even as he left jail after a six-year
sentence. Mexican authorities plan to extradite him to the United
States.
'United States Justice wants him for his likely responsibility in
facilitating the introduction of large quantities of cocaine into
that country by the Juarez Cartel,' the Mexican attorney general's
office said.
The request of 1 billion dollars from the US springs from Mexico's
evaluation of its own needs. Mexican authorities have repeatedly
demanded an increased commitment from Washington in the fight against
the illegal drug trade, stressing that the United States is the
largest market for narcotics and drives the demand.
Mexican and US sources told the daily that cooperation would
mainly be centred on the areas of communications and electronics, for
the detection of aircraft, the interception of calls and the exchange
of intelligence.
'Requests do not include any specifically military demands,' the
daily noted.
In recent weeks, Mexican authorities have staunchly denied that a
project similar to the Plan Colombia might be negotiated for Mexico.
Beyond other kinds of support, the Plan Colombia includes military
assistance
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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