Opening Remarks for Gang Conference
April 42, 2006

Good Morning.  My name is Doug Barclay, and I am the Ambassador of the United States to El Salvador. 

On behalf of the Embassy, I welcome all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors from the United States who are in attendance for the Second Annual International Gang Enforcement Conference. 

I also want to send best wishes to our friends and colleagues joining us from the other Central American countries.  Bienvenida.

Most importantly, I thank the National Civilian Police and the Ministry of Governance for sponsoring this important event.

Gangs traffic in narcotics, arms, and persons.  They retard investment by extorting bribes and eliminating security.  They rape, pillage, and kill at will.  If left unchecked, they have the capacity to become one of the greatest threats to our hemispheric security.

As you all know, gang leaders in one country can order crimes that are carried out in another country.  Gang members move amongst our countries to avoid police investigations.  We must work together to stop the crime and the violence, and to bring these individuals to justice.  We must have law enforcement networks that are stronger than those of these criminals.

I am sure each of you will leave this conference with information valuable to your efforts against gang violence.  For the Americans in the audience, if you need any assistance from the Embassy, please locate any of the twenty or so Embassy officers in attendance, and we will assist you in anyway that we can. 

I’m excited that you are here.  You have a great challenge before you as law enforcement officers.  I wish you good luck and success.