[QODLink]
Americas
El Salvador president on confronting cartels
Mauricio Funes speaks about his country's stark situation of drug trafficking and related violence.
Last Modified: 16 Aug 2011 20:25

Al Jazeera interviews Mauricio Funes, El Salvador's president, about the dangerous and growing drug trafficking situation in his country and the region.

Funes says that gangs have evolved from loose-knit groups of people without many options to more advanced "task forces in the service of organised crime", which are being used by international drug cartels.

He also discusses the "regional strategy" of confronting cartels, which often have a higher operating budget than several Central American countries combined.

More than $100bn is spent annually on drug trafficking in Central America, compared to El Salvador's annual budget of $4bn.

Source:
Al Jazeera
Topics in this article
People
Country
City
Featured on Al Jazeera
The story of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and its emergence into the political arena after decades of suppression.
People & Power goes undercover to reveal how 'voluntourism' could be fuelling the exploitation of Cambodian children.
Facebook's now-public status may encourage its board and policy staff to respond to privacy, free expression concerns.
Two prominent figures in the American establishment break away from the mould and chastise the GOP - but is it enough?
Spotlight
Latest news and analysis as Egyptians elect first new president in post-Mubarak political era.
In-depth coverage of an escalating regional debate about Iran's geopolitical power and the West.
Violence continues as UN observers are deployed to monitor both sides' compliance with a peace plan.
join our mailing list

Enter Zip Code
Go