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U.S.-SPAIN JOINT RELEASE ON COUNTERNARCOTICS COOPERATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Minister of the Interior of Spain and the Attorney General of the United States of America recognize the significant domestic and international challenges posed by illicit narcotics trafficking.

The Minister and the Attorney General are committed to maintaining a close relationship for the purpose of overcoming these challenges. In this regard, the Governments desire increased bilateral and multilateral cooperation and coordination to combat transnational organized crime and to interdict illegal narcotics.

The Governments are party to the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, an extradition treaty (with three supplements), and other important agreements. They will review the existing legal framework with a view to promoting greater efficiency and cooperation in the fight against narcotics trafficking and consumption, organized crime and other criminal activity.

The Governments will continue their support for anti-drug training and education programs, crop eradication, and alternative development programs. In addition, they are committed to fighting international money laundering, computer crime and other financial crime. The Governments will also continue to seek avenues for effective and efficient cooperation in undercover operations, forfeiture of narcotics trafficking proceeds, and related training.

The Governments have interests and expertise on the American continent and in the Caribbean basin. They wish to pursue new opportunities for counternarcotics cooperation in these regions.

Finally, the Attorney General of the United States and the Minister of the Interior of Spain undertake to continue their dialogue about their counternarcotics efforts and to maintain communication at the diplomatic and working levels.

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