**Reduction of Drug Demand**

The Merida Initiative will support the efforts of the Health
Secretariat's National Council to Combat Addiction (CONADIC) by
providing computer equipment to build a platform to share information
and distance learning to facilitate training and technical assistance
for the prevention and treatment of drug use.

The equipment and technology will permit to implement a "National
Network for the Transfer of Technology to Combat Addictions," (RENADIC,
for its acronym in Spanish).

**Type of Equipment**

This will include the purchase of computer equipment, including hardware
and software, and training to install and manage a national information
center and a network for massive storage of epidemic information.

**Maintenance**

Maintenance will be performed by equipment providers, initially, and
then by CONADIC personnel.

**Program Impact**

The program will allow civil society and government to expand their
actions to promote education about the use of psychotropic drugs and
combat addictions.

The expansion of RENADIC will allow the National Council to Combat
Addictions to carry out a national campaign against addictions,
particularly against the use of methamphetamines. This is an added
benefit that complements common objectives of the U.S. and Mexico
governments.

Likewise, CONADIC's project for the treatment of drug users will allow
to improve treatment programs in Mexico and will be evaluated by
scientific criteria with the goal of reducing drug use, drug-related
crimes, and violence among the vulnerable sectors.

**Participating Agencies**

Health Secretariat's National Council to Combat Addictions

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**Expansion of the migratory operation system**

The Merida Initiative will help Mexico's National Migration Institute
(INAMI) update and expand its Comprehensive Migratory Operation System,
which currently allows to keep records of 88% of the travelers that
arrive in the country by air.

Moreover, it will strenghten INAMI's search and rescue capacities in the
inhospitable regions of Mexico's southern border.

**Type of Equipment**

The initiative contemplates creating a solid Information Techologies
(IT) network to support INAMI's examination and control operations. It
will provide equipment such as passport and fingerprint scanners that
allow to introduce biometric standars.

The program also includes communications equipment to assists Mexican
immigration authorities in search and rescue operations along the
southern border.

**Training**

Mexico will receive specialized training for the adequate use of
equipment and technologies.

**Program Impact**

The IT network will allow to expand and strenghten migratory operations
in Mexico. It will also contribute to the modernization of immigration
procedures and issuing of documents.

The strengthening of the migratory examination and operation capacities
will increase the possibility of sharing information with other
governments, and in turn benefit Mexico's national security.

INAMI will provide the personnel and cover operation costs.

**Participating Agency**

National Migration Institute

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**Technical Assistance in Penitentiary System**

The Initiative will help strenghten the capacity of the penitentiary
system to deal with violent criminals and members of organized crime.

Mexican prisons are overcrowded and the current system has only limited
alternatives.

The Mexican government is particularly interested in using this program
to build a new maximum-security prison, to develop strategies that
prevent prison overcrowding, to improve physical security and
readaptation programs for inmates, and to establish an academy dedicated
to training personnel for penitentiaries.

**Training**

The training for this program will reach all levels of the prison
system. There will be practical instruction with emphasis on training
programs for instructors. Training will include exhanges between Mexican
and U.S. officials to obsserve prison administration and operation
techniques.

**Program Impact**

The program will improve training of penitentiary system personnel and
will provide them with effective tools and techniques of vigilance and
detection of illicit activities within prisons.

The protection of inmates rights and their living conditions will also
be improved.

**Participating Agency**

Secretariat of Public Security

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**Forensics Laboratories**

Forensic examinations are critical for the successful investigation and
prosecution of criminals.

Forensics labs house highly- specialized criminologic tests and
contribute to an improved training in ballistics, evidence gatehring and
preservation, chemical and biological analyses and forensic computer
science.

**Type of Equipment**

The Mexican government will aquire state-of-the-art equipment that
includes three Integrated Ballistics Identification Systems, as well as
mass spectometers.

**Training**

Training will be provided by U.S. experts and by equipment
manufacturers.

**Program Impact**

The program will help modernize the Attorney General's Office (PGR)
forensics abilities, and strengthen its investigation and law
enfrocement capacities, particularly in criminal cases.

The goal of the PGR is to have forensics labs compliant with ISO 17025,
concerning general requirements for the competence of callibration and
test labs.

The Attorney General's Office has invested over \$20 million in a new
building and equipment, as well as in personnel training. PGR will also
pay for the personnel and the operation costs.

**Participating Agency**

Attorney General's Office

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**Financial Intelligence Units**

The program will help strengthen the data mining and handling
capabilities of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to respond
effectively to the rapidly evolving crime of money laundering.

Equipment under the program will modernize the FIU's capacity to
process, analyze and correlate information on money flows in the
financial system, identifying irregularities that will flag transactions
for further investigation.

The monitoring and analysis of the information compiled in this program
demands broader, faster databases and improved capability to share and
exchange information with financial regulators and law enforcement
agencies.

**Type of equipment**

The information systems acquired --*hardware* and *software-* will
reinforce administrative and information processing systems, tracing
links between transactions, assessing the effectiveness of reporting
forms, improving data analysis, and easing the preparation of reports,
charts, and other graphic elements.

**Progam Impact**

The FIU is the organization responsible for developing intelligence
related to money laundering and terrorist finance. Strengthening its
capabilities will permit us to mantain, process, and analyze information
in an expedient and effecient manner.

The FIU has made initial investments in information technology laying a
strong base for developing the program.

The FIU will supply all the personnel for this project, and cover
ongoing operational costs.

**Participating Government Agency**

Financial Intelligence Unit.

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**Strengthening Poligraphy Capacities**

Ensuring confidence/trustworthyness is a fundamental element in the
creation of more effective security forces.

The Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), the General Customs
Administration (AGA) and the National Institute of Migration have
adopted strict standards to verify the integrity of their staff.

Poligraphic examinations are a key component in the evaluation of
trustworthyness.

These three organizations/offices use poligraphic technology to screen
out questionable applicants; ensure the integrity of currently employed
officials; and use poligraphy extensively with witnesses as another
investigative tool.

**Type of equipment**

We will procure poligraph testing equipment and training for its
effective use.

**Program impact**

The poligraphy program will have a positive impact on pre-recruitment
and periodic review of employees as one of various tools to detect
whether applicants or employees are trying to hide information.

We will see a reduction in corruption across all levels of the SSP,
Customs and INAMI through periodic testing of their public servants.

The SSP has already invested more than three million dolars in
installations, equipment and training of personnel to consolidate a
National Center for Confidence Control.

SSP, AGA and INAMI will pay personnel and ongoing operational costs.

**Participating organizations**

The Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), the General Customs
Administration (AGA) and the National Institute of Migration.