Cross-border crimes like drug trafficking demand punishments that are not limited by national boundaries. The collaboration between Mexico and the United States in the extradition process is a good example of this.
Extradition to the United States is an important tool in the fight against organized crime. In Colombia, it was one of the punishments most feared by cartel leaders, since the local judicial system and prisons were vulnerable to corruption. That is not the case on this side of the border where they can spend the rest of their lives in a super maximum security prison.
Now the same is happening in Mexico, where Felipe Calderón’s government has significantly increased the number of suspects sent across the border for trial. Over the weekend, 11 individuals were turned over, setting an annual record of 100 extraditions, and reflecting close collaboration between the authorities of both nations.
This time, two operators from the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels were extradited, along with others involved in contraband and several accused of felonies including homicide and rape.
In addition to sending a message to drug traffickers, the extraditions also show that Mexico is not a refuge for its citizens who commit serious crimes in the United States. The old idea of "crossing the border" to flee justice should disappear as the ties between the two countries grow tighter.
Extraditing suspected felons between the United States and Mexico is a necessary collaborative effort that contributes to public safety in both nations.
