MORE DRUG WAR PROGRESS

Through the years, Mexico has struggled with corruption fostered by
drug trafficking.

Which is why it was such positive news that a federal judge in Mexico
is seeking to extradite Mario Villanueva, the former governor of
Quintana Roo, to the United States on drug smuggling charges, Reuters
reported recently.

Villanueva, who spent six years in prison in Mexico City, faces more
time behind bars on charges of helping to smuggle 200 tons of cocaine
into the United States.

The incident allegedly occurred in the 1990s. If the former governor
is extradited, he would become the highest-ranking former Mexican
official to stand trial on drug-trafficking charges in the United States.

Perhaps even more important, however, the extradition would represent
yet another move reflecting the aggressive assault against the drug
cartels since President Felipe Calderon assumed office last year.

It will be a long, hard struggle, perhaps one that can never be won,
but Mexico is taking significant steps to end the corruption spawned
by drug cartels.