Germany and Mexico intend to work together more closely to combat organized crime such as drug cartels, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul following consultations of the German-Mexican bilateral commission in Mexico City.
“The significant rise in drug use in Germany and across Europe is a cause of great concern to us. That is why we must work together very closely on this,” said Wadephul, who chaired the meeting with his Mexican counterpart Roberto Velasco.
“We are seeing Europe being virtually inundated by a wave of drugs originating from this region – not only from Mexico, but also from other Central and South American countries,” Wadephul told journalists on Friday on the sidelines of a visit to mark the 60th anniversary of Germany’s Goethe Institute cultural centre in the Mexican capital.
“That is why it must be in our interest to strengthen security cooperation here.”
He said he would discuss the issue with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. One of the most important outcomes of his visit to Mexico was “not only the interest, but also the will to work very closely together from now on”.
Wadephul had said that the fight against organized crime was at the top of the agenda for cooperation.
Cartels are working together very effectively across continents, he said, with the result that large quantities of drugs are reaching Europe.