On May 14 and 15, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Assistance (INL) as well as the Mexican Attorney General’s office (FGR), conducted the third in a series of workshops with prosecutors from FGR. The workshop was held under the guidance of Licenciado Miguel Angel Méndez Buenos Aires, director of the Specialized Office for International Affairs (FEAIN).
The initiative is part of a broader collaboration under the Bicentennial Framework between the United States and Mexico to counteract transnational criminal organizations that traffic fentanyl into the United States. Representatives from various departments including the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and IRS Criminal Investigation participated alongside Mexican judges and prosecutors.
The participants discussed bilateral cooperation and investigative techniques to build successful cases against drug trafficking organizations. The workshop also aimed to provide an understanding of global trafficking trends, money laundering, fentanyl criminal markets around the world, as well as the role played by dark web and cryptocurrency in distributing and trafficking fentanyl.
Key speakers at this event included OPDAT Senior Resident Legal Advisor in Mexico Jamie Mickelson, OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor in Mexico Arturo Aguilar, Justice Department Counselor for Narcotics and Transnational Organized Crime Arthur Wyatt, and Dr. German Adolfo Castillo Banuet who is chief prosecutor for the specialized unit for regional control of FGR.
These speakers underscored the importance of bilateral coordination and collaboration to combat fentanyl trafficking with an aim to ensure safe and prosperous communities in both countries.