Clinton Pledges More Funds To Fight Drug Cartels In Central America

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to offer more money to fighting drug trafficking in Central America.

Speaking at a regional security conference in Guatemala City on Wednesday, Clinton said her government would increase its anti-drug foreign aid by more than 10 percent to nearly $300-million.

In addition, the World Bank pledged $1-billion to the cause over the coming years, according to Pamela Cox, the bank's vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) will also pony up $500-million over two years.

According to BBC, more than 66 percent of the cocaine that moves from South America to the U.S. passes through Guatemala.

Mexican drug cartels are believed to be moving their operations increasingly into Central America.

Everyone knows the statistics, the murder rates surpassing civil war levels, Clinton said at the Central American Security Conference (SICA).

But she added that local governments would also have to contribute and cooperate across borders to fight the scourge of the drug trade.

We will be your ready partners but it must begin with you and led by you, she said. The cartels and criminals are not contained by borders and so therefore our response must not be either.”

She added that “Businesses and the rich in every country must pay their fair share of taxes and become full partners in a whole of society effort. True security cannot be funded on the backs of the poor.”