Central America is utilized as a mid-point storage and transit region for drugs being transported to Mexico and/or the United States. Drug trafficking organizations and criminal groups located in Mexico are the predominant smugglers, transporters, and wholesale distributors of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and Mexico-produced heroin in the United States.
DEA offices located in Mexico and the Central America Region combat the aggressive methods of operations used by the various regional drug trafficking organizations (DTO) by conducting bilateral investigations with foreign counterparts, providing investigative assistance and leads to DEA domestic offices and other agencies, providing training and technical equipment to host nation participants to initiate and carry out complex criminal investigations, providing assistance in developing drug control laws and regulations, and providing training and material support to foreign law enforcement counterparts.
The DEA is represented in Canada at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver. DEA is the single point-of-contact for drug and drug money-laundering investigations overseas. DEA’s role in Canada is to coordinate international drug-trafficking investigations between the United States and Canadian law enforcement. In addition to illicit narcotics and the laundering of proceeds, DEA also investigates the diversion of legitimate pharmaceuticals as well as precursor chemicals needed to manufacture illicit drugs. Both DEA offices in Canada work with Canadians on a full complement of cases while ensuring that our activities are in keeping with Canadian laws and existing agreements.
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