Costa Rica Teams Up With Mexico Against Crime

Mexican fugitives can no longer take refuge in Costa Rica and vice versa, thanks to a new extradition treaty signed by presidenta Laura Chinchilla and her Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderón.

Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla (L) and her Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon smile after a toast during a dinner in Chinchilla's honor at the Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City.

The treaty is one of the commitments made yesterday on security issues, which allows both countries the exchange of information on organized crime and recover stolen vehicles and vessels.

The fight against organized crime and drug trafficking are among the main objectives of the presidenta in her the two-day tour of Mexico City.

"Mexico's battle is of all civilized nations in the worl", said Chinchilla, who congratulate Calderón for his strategy in diminishing the drug trade.

Days earlier Chinchilla was quoted in the Mexican newspaper El Universal, that the drug war is not won only by military means, but with an efficient judicial system.

Calderón implemented in 2006 a military strategy against the drug cartels that has resulted in more than 41.000 deaths since.

While in Mexico, presidenta Chinchilla met Monday morning with members of the Mexican Business Council of Commerce in an attempt to book Mexican investment and trade in Costa Rica.

In 2010, Costa Rica was the Mexico's main trade partner in the region.

Furthermore, Mexico is the first to negotiate a free trade agreement with Costa Rica and since then, trade has increased 14 times over.