Chapter 75

We were up early; the six of us and the new security team. Flying with us was Curtis Warren and two of his attorneys. We were stopping at Fort Dean to pick up Andy. We were taking the older business jet; there would be just enough seats.

With the big meeting table it was just right for final discussions while we were flying. With the agreement in the final print version after yesterday’s marathon faxing sessions, Andy, Curtis Warren, his two international attorneys and we girls went through the document page by page for anything that was problematic.

By the time we landed in Mexico City, we had finished and were having a general conversation on working scenarios and solutions. Scenarios were scary and the solutions even worse, but I had no doubt that we could handle them.

The meetings lasted four hours, with explanations, concerns, promises, threats and solutions. The meetings were broken into four parts, the one with the President and his cabinet ministers was contentious at times.

Then Mexpo’s President and board of directors were to finalize their financial obligations and how much Mexico’s treasury was going to contribute. Mexpo’s contribution had gone up substantially, all of which had changed because of the addition of the southern pipeline and limits by the government on what they were willing to spend.

There were bonuses for JBG’s early completion of each phase because the size and scope of the original contracts had grown so much. All of these things were in the final faxed contracts from yesterday.

The next piece was part D - those discussions were very heated. There had been references to it in the faxes and contracts.

With Part D Mexico was to lease JBG a mile and a half wide strip from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean for a period of ten years. All improvements at the end of the lease were to become property of Mexico.

The property was to be a security zone between Mexico and the United States patrolled by JBG and giving JBG full autonomy over the property without any interference for the term of the lease. It included courts, jails and any activities prudent and necessary.

The Mexican government was willing pay JBG to reduce or eliminate drug, gang and human trafficking both ways on the border. Mexico’s argument was the problems were as much the US’s fault as theirs.

Mexico was getting pressure from all over. The US was screaming about all the drugs and people coming across the border. Officials were estimating that the number would reach hundreds of thousands this year. Bales of grass were transported across almost every night. The cartel was cutting holes through the fence or launching it over the fence.

Cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, LSD and other custom made drugs were hidden in everything; under the seats of cars, in their tires. They were in shipping containers, dropped over the wall with small drones. They were being carried by persons or being trafficked in body orifices.

Members of the cartel were traveling at will across the border with no fear of the Mexican police. The cartel was setting up camp in many US cities: Los Angeles, Flagstaff, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver and Oklahoma City. They were turning some of these into major distribution hubs.

Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela - at the prodding of their Soviet masters - were willing to send troops to help fight the cartel. Mexico was smart enough to have none of it.

At 1400 after lunch a statement was written for President Martinez to open the news conference after the public signing of the documents, making the contracts and agreements official.

A long table was set up with President Martinez and me in the middle with a stack of the agreements and a microphone.

“Today we are signing a historic document that covers several fronts. It establishes a working partnership with Mexico’s leading oil producer Mexpo, the Mexican government and JBG - the world’s largest security company.”

“It has been a difficult negotiating process but we believe we have a workable agreement that is fair all parties,” President Martinez said.

“Mexican petroleum is proud to partner with JBG for security of our three major pipelines. This agreement will end illegal activities that have been stealing our product, damaging the pipelines and will allow Mexpo to increase production to meet the needs of Mexico and the world,” Mr. Garcia said.

“JBG has been given the special liberties and permits to enforce the law to work in partnership with and outside the limits of Mexican law in all illegal activities in the designated areas.”

“A new approach is being made to cross border human trafficking, the drug trade, and host of other illegal activities. The Mexican government has agreed to lease a 1.5 mile wide strip that runs the length of our border with America. This will be called the Mexican American Security Zone.”

“This agreement gives JBG full autonomy over the security zone including the authority to confiscate property and enforce the law as they see necessary. This includes courts and prisons,” President Martinez said.

“This is indeed a historic document. It is the largest nonmilitary security plan ever devised. We at JBG are proud to be a partner with Mexpo and the Government of Mexico. I fully expect there to be difficult parts of the plan and I fully expect them to be worked out smoothly. In a matter of weeks JBG security will make a major presence in Mexico,” I said.