Canada to train Mexican police in 15-mn-dlr programme

Canada has said that it would increase training by its Mounted Police for Mexican officers as part of a new, 15-million-dollar security programme for the Americas.

Canada has said that it would increase training by its Mounted Police for Mexican officers as part of a new, 15-million-dollar security programme for the Americas.

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The announcement came as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara for a summit overshadowed by Mexican drug violence.

“Supporting police training in Mexico is one of the most effective ways to fight organised crime and drug trafficking within Canada,” said a statement from Harper’s office on Sunday.

Thirty-two Mexican police officers would travel to Canada for three weeks’ training in the fall, while eight Spanish-speaking Royal Canadian Mounted Police instructors were currently in Mexico providing basic training to Mexican Federal Police recruits.

Canada would also provide training for 300 mid-level officers, the statement added.

With killings in suspected drug attacks in Mexico approaching 10,000 since the start of 2008, Mexican President Felipe Calderon was expected to seek more support for his controversial military crackdown on the country’s warring drug gangs during the two-day summit also attend by US President Barack Obama.