First Copters To Arrive Two Years Behind Schedule

Five helicopters requested by the Mexican government two years ago to assist in fighting well-equipped drug cartels are finally about to be delivered, but an additional 15 aircraft may not arrive for two more years.

The helos are part of the Merida Initiative, which was created by U.S. and Mexican officials in an effort to fight the Mexican drug trade. The $1.3 billion package is intended to give the Mexican government tools to combat drug cartels that have been arming themselves with anti-aircraft weapons, rocket launchers, and submarines. The Arizona Republic reports that more than 13,000 people have died fighting the drug wars in Mexico.

The aircraft in question account for about half the money agreed to between Mexican President Felipe Calderón and then-U.S. President George W. Bush in 2007, but negotiations over aircraft contracts and equipment have bogged down the process. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would look into ways to expedite the process.

The agreement calls for the Mexican government to receive as many as 5 UH-60 Black Hawk  and 8 Bell 412 helicopters for the Mexican Air Force, an additional three Black Hawks for the Federal Police, up to four Casa 235 Persuader surveillance airplanes for the Mexican Navy, and upgrades to Mexico's fleet of Citation surveillence planes.

Bell 412 File Photo

The five helos about to be delivered are Bell 412's that were in stock and could be modified to fit Mexico's needs. The State Department says it is working to fulfill the remainder of the contracts, but admitted in a written statement that the timeline had fallen "below our initial expectations."

Other items in the agreement have been delivered, including armored ground vehicles, X-ray vans, and ion scanners used to detect drugs and explosives.

FMI: www.state.gov