MEXICO'S ROLE IN METH CONTROL

The May 11 article Mexicans conquer U.S. 'meth' trade correctly
underscores some of the challenges Mexico and the United States face
as our governments jointly and co-responsibly take on the scourge of
drug-trafficking organizations operating on both sides of the border.
However, the article does not address key issues that I believe are
essential elements to present a comprehensive picture of this challenge.

First, as acknowledged by U.S. law-enforcement agencies, there is no
evidence to sustain that ``Mexican drug gangs now produce 80 percent
of the methamphetamine consumed in the United States.''

Second, and more important, the article does not mention comprehensive
controls and actions implemented recently by the Mexican government to
combat the flow of chemicals used for meth production. These include
limited imports and commercialization permits, establishing only three
designated ports of entry for import-export of these chemicals to
Mexico and legislation that will turn Mexico into a
pseudoephedrine-free country by the end of the year.

John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
recently reported that counter-narcotics actions implemented by the
Mexican government are directly linked to the decrease of almost 50
percent in methamphetamine seizures across the U.S. southwest border,
and to the increase in price per gram of meth, the decrease of its
purity and the reduction of meth accessibility in cities throughout
the United States.

I commend The Miami Herald for its interest and coverage of this most
important issue.

Ricado Alday, spokesman, Mexican Embassy

Washington, D.C.