Source Countries and
Drug Transit Zones: Central America
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Security in Central America is no longer challenged by state-to-state or military-to-military security threats, but rather by organized crime, drugs and arms trafficking, the illegal movement of precursor chemicals, gang violence, human smuggling, money laundering and terrorism. These threats, spanning a host of cross-cutting social problems, demand coordinated, cooperative, and multifaceted responses.
Geographically, the countries in Central America are considered a natural conduit for the illicit activities of drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). DTOs and criminal organizations in Central America have grown in size and strength over the last decade, suborning and intimidating law enforcement and judicial officials, weakening the states' abilities to maintain public security. All seven Central American countries are actively used by major DTOs to smuggle drugs into the United States, while arms and cash flows move south across our border through Mexico to sustain these criminal organizations.
The gang problem in Central America is an issue of growing concern for the United States and its regional partners. It is known that these gangs sometimes act as enforcers for DTOs, even receiving payment in the form of drugs.
The United States has far-reaching geographic, economic, and demographic links to Central America and a compelling national security interest in assisting these nations succeed in addressing the challenges they face. Only through cooperation, partnership, and shared responsibility can today's transnational security challenges be addressed while balancing peoples' security, economic growth and opportunity, and justice concerns.
In 2007, for the first time, Central American countries agreed they must strengthen regional security through the Central American Integration System (SICA). Together they have produced a comprehensive regional security strategy. To assist in this effort and address the problem of drug trafficking and its associated violence, the Merida Initiative, a multi-year security cooperation program, is designed to enhance U.S., Mexican, and Central American enforcement capabilities while also expanding regional cooperation.
For detailed reports on the drug trafficking situation in Central American countries please refer to the Central American section of the State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
