Bolivian President Critical of Mexico’s Drug-War Model

Bolivian President Evo Morales criticized what he calls a “failed” anti-narcotics model in Mexico and Colombia Thursday in a graduation ceremony of the country’s National Police Academy, while also celebrating Bolivia’s policies towards fighting narcotraficking.

"The market for cocaine is generally in industrialized and developing countries. But … look at what is happening in Colombia, and especially how it is in Mexico,” said Morales at the event.

The former union leader pointed to recent events in Mexico regarding the forced disappearance of 42 teacher-training students of the Ayotzinapa college as a result of the country’s anti-organized crime policies.

"The recent events [in Ayotzinapa-Mexico], I still think that [the forced disappearance of the students] is a failed model, a model of free market that is unfortunately subject to the U.S. empire. And now there are deep problems,” said Morales. 

The indigenous leader said the policies of erradicating coca crops and a militarized strategy of fighting organized crime groups were provoking violence and instability.

"We do not want to have this kind of problem in Bolivia, of organized crime. It seems that crime groups are above the state. In some regions, not even with the presence of military bases can one fight drug trafficking," said Morales.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the Bolivian president’s comments with concern. The reply was sent to Bolivia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday morning.

“These repeated expressions promote a false perception of regional division at a time when Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico in particular, are determined to build a space of unity and dialogue in the figure of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC),” said the ministry.

Morales has been a staunch critic of U.S. foreign policy, especially when it comes to the war on drugs.