Legal Commentary

U.S. Using Drones in Mexico for War on Drugs

By Jeralyn

The New York Times reports the U.S. is employing unmanned drones in Mexico to track the cartels.

The Pentagon began flying high-altitude, unarmed drones over Mexican skies last month, American military officials said, in hopes of collecting information to turn over to Mexican law enforcement agencies.

The U.S. and Mexico have also agreed to open a second "counternarcotics “fusion” center" to better share information.

In addition, the United States trains thousands of Mexican troops and police officers, collaborates with specially vetted Mexican security units, conducts eavesdropping in Mexico and upgrades Mexican security equipment and intelligence technology, according to American law enforcement and intelligence officials. [More...]

Most details are secret, which may be the cause of conflicting reports:

Mexican and American authorities, for example, initially denied that the first fusion center, established over a year ago in Mexico City, shared and analyzed intelligence. Some officials now say that Mexican and American law enforcement agencies work together around the clock, while others characterize it more as an operational outpost staffed almost entirely by Americans.

Both countries appear to be flouting their own rules, or at least walking a fine line when it comes to extra-legal activity. Mexican law prohibits U.S. agents from conducting operations in Mexico, or from carrying weapons. And Mexico does have laws regarding wiretapping. All seem to be "flexible" when the war on drugs is involved:

Mexican and American officials say Mexico turns a blind eye to American wiretapping of the telephone lines of drug-trafficking suspects, and similarly to American law enforcement officials carrying weapons in violation of longstanding Mexican restrictions.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 16, 2011 (boomark / email).