Mexico Ambassador Says U.S. Fuels Drug Trade

This past Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," Mexico Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan said that weapons and money flowing from the U.S. into Mexico is helping fuel the violent drug trade taking place there.

"The key issue right now is how can the United States help to shut down those guns and shut down that bulk cash that is providing the drug syndicates in Mexico with the wherewithal to corrupt, to bribe, to kill," says Sarukhan.

With President Obama preparing to travel to Mexico this coming week Sarukhan is attributing 90% of the weapons in Mexico to the U.S. and also said the influx of guns is directly linked to the expiration of an assault-weapons ban in the U.S. in 2004.

The Obama adminstration said it has been taking several steps to provide more assistance to Mexico in its fight against drug violence, including providing more federal agents to try to stop gun smuggling.

Earlier in the month the U.S. and Mexico Attorney Generals met in hopes to discuss plans to stop the flow of illegal guns, weapons, and cash traveling between the two countries.

So far however, the U.S.'s efforts seem to be making no progress and alternative action will most likely need to be taken.

-Ashley Mickelwaite, Mexico