Tue, Dec 15, 2009
First Copters To Arrive Two Years Behind Schedule
Five helicopters requested by the
Mexican government two years ago to assist in fighting
well-equipped drug cartels are finally about to be delivered, but
an additional 15 aircraft may not arrive for two more years.
The helos are part of the Merida Initiative, which was created
by U.S. and Mexican officials in an effort to fight the Mexican
drug trade. The $1.3 billion package is intended to give the
Mexican government tools to combat drug cartels that have been
arming themselves with anti-aircraft weapons, rocket launchers, and
submarines. The Arizona Republic reports that more than 13,000
people have died fighting the drug wars in Mexico.
The aircraft in question account for about half the money agreed
to between Mexican President Felipe Calderón and then-U.S.
President George W. Bush in 2007, but negotiations over aircraft
contracts and equipment have bogged down the process. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton said she would look into ways to expedite the
process.
The agreement calls for the Mexican government to receive as
many as 5 UH-60 Black Hawk and 8 Bell 412 helicopters for the
Mexican Air Force, an additional three Black Hawks for the Federal
Police, up to four Casa 235 Persuader surveillance airplanes for
the Mexican Navy, and upgrades to Mexico's fleet of Citation
surveillence planes.
Bell 412 File Photo
The five helos about to be delivered are Bell 412's that were in
stock and could be modified to fit Mexico's needs. The State
Department says it is working to fulfill the remainder of the
contracts, but admitted in a written statement that the timeline
had fallen "below our initial expectations."
Other items in the agreement have been delivered, including
armored ground vehicles, X-ray vans, and ion scanners used to
detect drugs and explosives.
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