David T. Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, spoke yesterday on the release of the 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. Johnson mentioned the improved cooperation that is occurring between "consumer" nations such as the United States and producer nations in Central and South America as the producer nations have begun to realize that they are affected by the "social, economic, and even political damage that is caused by international drug trafficking and the organized crime that it can fuel."

Secretary Johnson also praised Mexico's efforts in combatting drug trafficking, saying "President Calderón of Mexico has taken decisive action to fight drug trafficking and criminal organizations that affect both sides of our shared border." However, the same opportunity was taken to present a relatively harsh picture of Venezuela. "When we observe the trafficking from Venezuela, both north into North America and the United States and Canada as well as to Europe, we don’t see significant measures or any – even any real measures taken to counter that. And that’s of obvious great concern to us... We remain open to working with Venezuela on this issue, but we have thus far not had a willing partner," he said.