Mexico's army has allowed the United States and the United Nations to observe its opium poppy eradication efforts for the first time in over a decade. This move is seen as a step towards greater cooperation in combating heroin trafficking. The Mexican army aims to gain recognition for its efforts and address U.S. concerns about the quality of its data and the success of its eradication program. The U.S. military, U.N., and embassy officials were flown into Mexico's heroin-producing regions to witness the destruction of opium fields. The army is also adopting UNODC technology to improve real-time data reporting on eradication. These developments occur amidst high-level talks between Mexico and the Trump administration on curbing the flow of heroin and weapons across the border. The Mexican army's increased openness to collaboration marks a significant shift, given its historical distrust of the U.S. and concerns over human rights issues related to its drug war involvement.

The draft report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) criticizes Mexico for its ineffective efforts in combating money laundering and illicit finance, particularly in the real estate and luxury goods sectors. Despite efforts to clean up the banking sector, Mexican tax authorities have been inadequate in monitoring businesses outside the financial sector. The report also points out the low number of audits conducted on high-risk businesses and the lack of a national registry of shareholders, which hampers tracking of funds. An earlier draft by the IMF was toned down after Mexican officials intervened. The report also highlights poor coordination within Mexico and weak cooperation with the U.S. Despite organized crime generating an estimated $58.5 billion annually, Mexico seized only $32.5 million in 2016, and the number of investigations based on financial intelligence has decreased.