Obama: high praise for Peña Nieto in capture of top Zeta

"We have to continue doing our part to reduce the demand for drugs in this country, and the flow of cash and arms south" - Barack Obama, July 16

Guadalajara -
In a White House interview yesterday with the Spanish language Univision network, president Barack Obama said Monday's capture of the top boss of of the powerful Los Zetas drug cartel by Mexican security forces demonstrates president Enrique Peña Nieto's determination to deal with international drug trafficking.

"I recognize that in the beginning, there was some question about that," Obama acknowledged.

But the president said that when he met with Peña Nieto on May 2, both men agreed on the need to "seriously confront" transnational narcotics traffickers. "The arrest of Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales clearly proves his commitment," Obama told Univision Tuesday.

During their Mexico City summit, the presidents said they were opposed to decriminalization. Obama tells Mexico: "drug legalization not the answer."

Obama said the United States would continue to assist Mexico in its war against trafficking, "in a manner which respects its national sovereignty." The president told Univision drug cartels present a threat not only to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, but to the U.S. as well. Mexican drug cartels operate in 1,286 U.S. cities.

Obama added, "We have to continue doing our part to reduce the demand for drugs in this country, and the flow of cash and arms south."
Obama: U.S. drug demand responsible for damage done to Mexico and other nations
Mexican drug traffickers find ready assistance in mules carrying American passports

Obama did not say whether the U.S. would immediately seek Treviño Morales' extradition. In 2008 Z-40 was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, charged with hauling cocaine from Mexico and Guatemala to the United States. Guatemalan ambassador warns of growing Los Zeta drug cartel presence in his country.

July 16 - Mexican army shines again in Treviño Morales takedown
July 15 - Top Los Zeta boss, Z-40, arrested in Nuevo Laredo

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U.S. freezes Mérida Initiative funds promised to Mexico
Mexico's incoming PRI government pays little attention to marijuana legalization efforts in U.S.
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