Extraditions
The USG is working closely with Mexican counterparts to make effective use of our bilateral extradition treaty and other legal mechanisms in order to ensure that our shared border does not serve as a barrier behind which fugitives from justice may flee, find safe haven, and continue to commit crimes.
The overwhelming majority of fugitives extradited by Mexico are wanted in the U.S. for the most serious crimes, including murder, rape, sexual offenses against children, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Most of the fugitives returned to the U.S. by extradition are Mexican citizens.
Aside from extraditions, Mexican immigration authorities, in cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies, have been aggressively making use of Mexican immigration laws to deport non-Mexican fugitives to the United States. Since 2005, Mexico has deported between 150 and 200 fugitives to face justice in the U.S.
Reducing U.S. Drug Consumption
The United States recognizes the importance of preventing drug use and treating addiction, in addition to fighting associated criminal activities. More Information can be found at: White House Office of Drug Policy.
Our National Drug Control Strategy has three elements:
- Stopping use before it starts
- Intervening and healing America’ drug users
- Disrupting the market
The U. S. 2008 budget for drug control is about $13 billion dollars:
- 36% dedicated to reducing demand (treatment & prevention)
- 28% for domestic law enforcement
- 25% interdiction (at borders and at home)
These programs show results:
- Teen drug use is down 23% since 2001 (840,000 fewer users)
- Workplace drug use is at its lowest level in 18 years.
- Since 1988, positive drug tests have fallen from 13.6% in 1988 to 3.8% in 2006.
Law enforcement programs have also produced significant results:
- 29,400 arrests on drug-related charges.
- Nearly 70,000 kg in cocaine and over 320,000 kg of marijuana
Access to Recovery is a nation-wide program that provides vouchers for treatment as well as recovery support services. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 20 million Americans need treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use.
Overall illicit drug use among teens ages 12-17 is at a 5-year low, according to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the largest and most comprehensive study of drug use in the United States.
According to the same study, approximately 35.3 million Americans aged 12 & older had tried cocaine at least once in their lifetimes — 14.3% of the population aged 12 and older.
From 1995-2005, the number of admissions to treatment for methamphetamine abuse increased from 47,695 in 1995 to 152,368 in 2005.
Nearly 90% of the cocaine available in the U.S. crosses the Southwest Border.
ONDCP FACT SHEETS
- Website: A drug policy for the 21st century
- ONDCP – Whitehouse.gov
- Obama Administration Releases 2013 National Drug Policy Strategy (pdf, 1.38MB)
- FACT SHEET: A 21 st Century Drug Policy (pdf, 221K)
FACT SHEETS
- Law Enforcement Achievements (pdf, 79K)
- Combating Arms Trafficking (pdf, 53K)
- Reducing Drug Consumption (PDF – 97kb)
All downloadable documents on this page require the Adobe Acrobat® Reader. You may download a free version of Acrobat by visiting the Adobe website.