U.S. Deputy Assistant minister for Narcotics and Law Enforcement visits Juarez

CIUDAD JUAREZ – The Deputy Assistant minister of the U.S. State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL), Heide Fulton, visited Ciudad Juarez to hold a series of meetings with personnel from the Supreme Court of Justice of Chihuahua.

Undersecretary Fulton attended a hearing of the Specialized Drug Trafficking Court (TEN) to observe the therapeutic justice scheme that has been implemented in Chihuahua for defendants suffering from problematic use or dependence on psychoactive substances.

In October 2021, the Chihuahua Supreme Court of Justice and INL signed a memorandum of understanding to support training in substance abuse treatment strategies in Ciudad Juarez. The project supports binational security goals under the Bicentennial Framework to reduce violence and create safer communities.

The project, implemented by the non-profit organization Plan Colombo, with funding from INL, is already training participants by providing train-the-trainer courses for Chihuahua officials, and funding study tours for representatives from other states interested in seeing the TEN model in action.

As part of her tour of Ciudad Juarez, Under Secretary Fulton also met with representatives from the health sector with whom she visited the Reto a la Juventud women’s rehabilitation center and finally held a discussion with a neighborhood organization that is part of the Community Coalitions Network.

Heide Fulton assumed duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Programs in the Counterdrug and Law Enforcement Affairs Section in August 2020. Prior to that appointment, she served as Director of the Bureau of Mexican Affairs.

In addition, Heide led the U.S. Embassy in Honduras as Minister Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires from 2016 to 2019.

Source: MEXICONOW Staff