Mexico allows US drones into its territory

March 17, 2011

The Associated Press, Updated: March 16, 2011 11:46 AM

MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government said Wednesday it has allowed U.S. drones

to fly over its territory to gather intelligence on drug traffickers, but

insisted the operations were under its control.

The country's National Security Council said in a statement that the unmanned

aircraft have flown over Mexico on specific occasions, mainly along the border

with the U.S., to gather information at the request of the Mexican government.

The flights expand the U.S. role in the drug war, in which Americans already

have been training Mexican soldiers and police as well as cooperating on other

intelligence.

" When these operations are carried out, they are always done with the

authorization, oversight and supervision of national agencies, including the

Mexican Air Force, " the council said.

It said Mexico always defines the objectives, the information to be gathered and

the specific tasks in which the drones will be used and insisted that the

operations respected Mexican law, civil and human rights.

The drones " have been particularly useful in achieving various objectives of

combating crime and have significantly increased Mexican authorities'

capabilities and technological superiority in its fight against crime, " the

council said.

The drone operations were first reported Wednesday by The New York Times.

Mexican politicians have often criticized the involvement of U.S. agencies on

Mexican soil. Last week, the Mexican Senate voted to summon Mexico's ambassador

to the U.S., Arturo Sarukhan, to talk about allegations that U.S. agents allowed

guns to be smuggled into Mexico as part of investigations into drug trafficking.

Mexican Sen. Alberto Villareal said direct U.S. involvement " violates trust

and undermines national sovereignty. "

More than 35,000 people have died since President Felipe Calderon launched a

stepped-up offensive against the cartels in late 2006.

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