US, Mexico vow to tackle cross-border drug trafficking

Washington, Dec 15 (IANS) The US and Mexican high-level officials met here to discuss strategies to clamp down Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) and illegal drug flow with joint efforts.

Calling the TCOs and the drugs "grave" problems, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on Thursday told a press conference that only close collaboration can tackle the threats, Xinhua news agency reported.

In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdose, with death toll from synthetic opioids alone claiming more lives than both heroin and prescription pain killers, according to preliminary figures from the US government.

Meanwhile, many Mexicans have fallen victim to drug-related violence.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen told reporters that to strengthen the bilateral cooperation, a memorandum will be signed on Thursday through which US criminal history of repatriated Mexicans could be shared with Mexico.

Cross-border crime and drug trafficking have long been a threat to the two neighbouring countries, which traditionally blamed each other for drug demand and supply.

Urging the two sides to overcome the "blame game," Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray Caso called for "trust" and "effective actions."

Sullivan also noted the necessity for the United States to reduce their drug demand at home.

"As long as we continue to provide a thriving market, TCOs will keep coming to the United States," he said.