MEXICO UNVEILS NEW ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 4 (UPI) - Mexican Interior Minister Francisco
Labastida Ochoa announced a $500 million strategy to fight drugs for
the next three years, only a few days before the United States is set
to release its annual analysis and certification of other countries
drug-fighting methods.

Thirteen departments will cooperate in the program, which will attack
drug traffic in and out of Mexico by using electronic sensors to
detect fields of narcotic plants, to find narcotic shipments and to
track suspicious airplanes and vessels.

Labastida said at a ceremony held to announce the plan that all the
operations are expected to be recorded on unerasable tapes for
evaluation and identification. Attorney General Jorge Madrazo also
said the plan calls for the use of satellite photography and
specialized computer systems.

Madrazo says Mexico's Defense Department will step up its efforts to
detect illegal flights and will coordinate land and sea tracking. The
Marine Department will use new sea-based equipment, such as high-speed
patrol boats with stronger engines and radar.

The new equipment is to serve mainly in the ``Sealing Operation'' on
the country's northern and southern borders, as well as in ports and
airports.

``With this operation we continue to reduce the introduction of drugs
to the country through the Yucatan Peninsula and the Chiapas and
Tabasco borders, pushing South America's cocaine production out of our
territory,'' Madrazo said.

All the programs targeting drug trafficking are to be coordinated at
an inter-department center to allow for immediate decisions, resource
mobilization and operation orders.