'U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to the Dominican Republic Roland W. Bullen and Dominican Minister of the Interior and Police, Franklin Almeyda Rancier, signed the first letter of agreement implementing the Mérida Initiative, a multi-year regional effort to combat organized crime, gangs and the trafficking of narcotics and firearms on Friday, June 26. The signing provides an initial $2,155,000, with an additional $345,000 to follow in FY2008 funding for the first year of the Mérida Initiative.' More here:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/06a/125460.htm