Governor Calls for Greater Federal Response to Illegal Meth Importation
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR GREATER FEDERAL RESPONSE TO ILLEGAL METH IMPORTATION
'Arizona Continues to Feel the Impact of This Dangerous Drug'
PHOENIX - Governor Janet Napolitano sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff detailing how Mexico's production and importation of methamphetamine into the U.S. is made possible partially by the legal importation of pseudoephedrine from the U.S. into Mexico. Pseudoephedrine, one of the precursor chemicals to meth, is moving from U.S. ports into Mexico for production of cold medications, but Mexico is currently importing far more pseudoephedrine than it needs for this type of production.
"One of the most disturbing aspects of the surge in Mexican production of methamphetamine is the legal importation of pseudoephedrine shipped directly into the port at Long Beach, then legally forwarded to Mexico," Governor Napolitano wrote.
"We indirectly facilitate the production of this illegal drug by allowing its main precursor to be shipped through the United States. This activity must be address in a proactive manner."
As the state continues to crack down on meth labs and regulate the purchasing of pseudoephedrine, the Governor asked Chertoff to aggressively pursue a plan to develop an enhanced chemical control system that quickly implements more stringent and effective inspections of incoming vessels for methamphetamine and its precursor chemicals.
"In addition, I would be grateful for your continued coordination with our state, Tribal and local law enforcement authorities with the aim of reducing the amount of illegal pseudoephedrine in the United States," Napolitano continued in her letter.
The letter is a result of Governor Napolitano's meetings with Mexican President Calderon and members of his cabinet. Mexico has established a registry of all of the labs legally producing medication with pseudoephedrine, as well as the amount of product that these labs use. Napolitano is now asking the U.S. federal government to take similar steps to curb this multimillion-dollar illegal industry.
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