Overview: The Mexican government remained vigilant against domestic and international terrorist threats. International terrorist organizations do not have a known operational presence in Mexico, and no terrorist group targeted U.S. citizens in or from Mexican territory. The Government of Mexico continued to strengthen its law enforcement institutions and to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking-related violence. There was no evidence that these criminal organizations had political or ideological motivations, aside from seeking to maintain the impunity with which they conduct their criminal activities.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: The Mexican government continued to improve the abilities of its security forces to counter terrorism. The United States supported these efforts by providing training and equipment to Mexican law enforcement and security agencies, sharing information, and promoting interagency law enforcement cooperation. The United States also supported Mexican efforts to address border security challenges along its southern and northern borders and its ports. The Mexican and U.S. governments shared information and jointly analyzed transnational threats; promoted information and intelligence sharing; deployed enhanced cargo screening technologies; and strengthened passenger information sharing. Mexican and U.S. officials also continued coordinated efforts to prevent the transit of third country nationals who may raise terrorism concerns. On the Mexico-U.S. border, officials increased coordination of patrols and inspections and improved communications across the border. On the Mexico-Guatemala-Belize border, Mexico deployed additional security forces and implemented biometric controls. Mexico remained an important partner nation in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program, which continued its overall shift in focus from protection of national leadership training to border security, preventing terrorist safe havens, and protecting critical infrastructure.

In support of U.S. efforts to identify and interdict illegitimate travel and travelers, consular Fraud Prevention Units and Regional Security Office investigators throughout Mexico provided training on recognition of fraudulent U.S. and Mexican identity and travel documents to local, state, and federal officials; and bank investigators.

Countering Terrorist Finance: Mexico is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Financial Action Task Force of South America against Money Laundering, a FATF-style regional body. Mexico's Congress approved long-awaited anti-money laundering legislation in late 2012, and at year's end the law was on track for full implementation in 2013. Through this legislation, records of transactions that would otherwise be undetectable because they are made solely in cash must now be reported to the federal government. This represents a significant advance over previous years that could help track some forms of potential terrorist financing. For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.

Regional and International Cooperation: Mexico entered into an agreement with the OAS' Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) in 2012. CICTE is implementing a two-year work plan in Mexico to address specific weaknesses in legislation, licensing, investigations and prosecution of proliferation violations, and interdiction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their components in an effort to prevent possible WMD terrorism.

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