Mexico, Panama set organized crime working group
(pr-inside.com) The presidents of Mexico and Panama agreed Friday to set up a working group to confront organized crime and drug trafficking, and discussed closer cooperation with Colombia and Guatemala on the problem.
The four countries are main points on the route for smuggling illicit drugs to the United States.
Mexico's Felipe Calderon and Panama's Martin Torrijos met in Panama City to establish a common front against powerful cartels that increasingly control all stages of drug trafficking, from production and smuggling to distribution and final sale.
The countries will share intelligence, strategies and technical information to fight criminal activities including drugs, human trafficking, money laundering and terrorism.
«I call for all of us to close ranks against crime in Latin America,» Calderon said.
Torrijos said the agreement aims to improve channels for exchanging anti-crime information and connecting the countries' criminal databases.
Mexican drug cartels are increasingly using Central American nations to move drugs, and are dealing directly with Colombian cartels to obtain cocaine.
«We are facing a multinational organization,» Calderon said. «I share the idea that information is power. We have to share the information.
