Report on Mexican Meth Delayed

A report that says Mexico is producing an increasingly large amount of methamphetamine for illegal import into the U.S. has been held back by the Obama administration, the New York Times reported June 8.

The 2010 National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment was completed in mid-May, but sources said the release has been delayed due to diplomatic concerns with Mexico.

The report from the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) said that meth availability is “high and increasing” because Mexico’s cartels have been able to get around the Mexican government’s ban on precursor chemicals used to produce the drug. A previous report from the NDIC on drug trafficking south of the border was the subject of criticism by Mexican officials; it chided the Mexican government for reducing efforts to eradicate drug crops.

The delay in releasing the methamphetamine report is administrative, not political, a U.S. Justice Department spokesperson said. “As part of our continuing efforts to more effectively provide accurate information to the law enforcement community and the public, the department is working with NDIC on a process to review and publish its reports,” said spokesperson Tracy Schmaler. “The department intends to meet with NDIC officials in the near future to finalize that process. Until that meeting can take place, the publication of a recent draft report on methamphetamine has been postponed.”