Mexico & Nafta - January 2014 (ISSN 1741-444X)

An investigative report published by El Universal on 6 January claims to have evidence (which includes recent testimony from Mexican drug traffickers on trial in the US) that from 2006 (and potentially earlier), senior US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Justice Department officials established contacts with high-ranking members of the Sinaloa drug gang, in the hope of recruiting informants. After secret meetings in Mexico (El Universal suggests there were at least 50), the two sides cut a deal whereby the informants agreed to provide the DEA with information about the activities of rival Mexican gangs in exchange for US agreement on a ‘light-handed’ approach to the Sinaloa organisation. This deal was cut without any consultation with the former Mexican government led by Felipe Calderón (2006-2012); but reportedly, it had the consent of the-then DEA regional director, David Gaddis, who El Universal claims acted with the support of his superiors.

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