The Examiner

Mexican drug czars encroach on Colombian cocaine cartels

April 20--Mexican drug czars are muscling into Colombia, encroaching on the multibillion-dollar cocaine industry traditionally controlled by cartels from cities like Medellin and Cali, according to several U.S. intelligence officials.

20 de abril de 2010

Mexican drug organizations are “dipping further ... into Colombia’s cocaine market,” said a U.S. law enforcement official, with knowledge of Mexican and Colombian drug operations.

That was echoed by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who recently visited U.S. military officials and law enforcement personnel in Colombia. He said there is evidence “the Mexican drug cartels are sending their members out of Mexico and into Colombia.”

Poe, who is calling for hearings on the growing violence along the U.S.-Mexican border, said the expansion of Mexico’s cartels should be a warning to both the U.S. and the Mexican governments. “They’re more ruthless and violent than even their Colombian counterparts, and according to our guys on the ground they want more control of Colombia’s cocaine trade.”

Jay Bergman, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Andean regional director has been closely watching the expansion of Mexican cartels in the regions.
 
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